Skip to main content

Full text of "Startling facts in modern spiritualism"

See other formats 


This  is  a  digital  copy  of  a  book  that  was  preserved  for  generations  on  library  shelves  before  it  was  carefully  scanned  by  Google  as  part  of  a  project 
to  make  the  world's  books  discoverable  online. 

It  has  survived  long  enough  for  the  copyright  to  expire  and  the  book  to  enter  the  public  domain.  A  public  domain  book  is  one  that  was  never  subject 
to  copyright  or  whose  legal  copyright  term  has  expired.  Whether  a  book  is  in  the  public  domain  may  vary  country  to  country.  Public  domain  books 
are  our  gateways  to  the  past,  representing  a  wealth  of  history,  culture  and  knowledge  that's  often  difficult  to  discover. 

Marks,  notations  and  other  marginalia  present  in  the  original  volume  will  appear  in  this  file  -  a  reminder  of  this  book's  long  journey  from  the 
publisher  to  a  library  and  finally  to  you. 

Usage  guidelines 

Google  is  proud  to  partner  with  libraries  to  digitize  public  domain  materials  and  make  them  widely  accessible.  Public  domain  books  belong  to  the 
public  and  we  are  merely  their  custodians.  Nevertheless,  this  work  is  expensive,  so  in  order  to  keep  providing  this  resource,  we  have  taken  steps  to 
prevent  abuse  by  commercial  parties,  including  placing  technical  restrictions  on  automated  querying. 

We  also  ask  that  you: 

+  Make  non-commercial  use  of  the  files  We  designed  Google  Book  Search  for  use  by  individuals,  and  we  request  that  you  use  these  files  for 
personal,  non-commercial  purposes. 

+  Refrain  from  automated  querying  Do  not  send  automated  queries  of  any  sort  to  Google's  system:  If  you  are  conducting  research  on  machine 
translation,  optical  character  recognition  or  other  areas  where  access  to  a  large  amount  of  text  is  helpful,  please  contact  us.  We  encourage  the 
use  of  public  domain  materials  for  these  purposes  and  may  be  able  to  help. 

+  Maintain  attribution  The  Google  "watermark"  you  see  on  each  file  is  essential  for  informing  people  about  this  project  and  helping  them  find 
additional  materials  through  Google  Book  Search.  Please  do  not  remove  it. 

+  Keep  it  legal  Whatever  your  use,  remember  that  you  are  responsible  for  ensuring  that  what  you  are  doing  is  legal.  Do  not  assume  that  just 
because  we  believe  a  book  is  in  the  public  domain  for  users  in  the  United  States,  that  the  work  is  also  in  the  public  domain  for  users  in  other 
countries.  Whether  a  book  is  still  in  copyright  varies  from  country  to  country,  and  we  can't  offer  guidance  on  whether  any  specific  use  of 
any  specific  book  is  allowed.  Please  do  not  assume  that  a  book's  appearance  in  Google  Book  Search  means  it  can  be  used  in  any  manner 
anywhere  in  the  world.  Copyright  infringement  liability  can  be  quite  severe. 

About  Google  Book  Search 

Google's  mission  is  to  organize  the  world's  information  and  to  make  it  universally  accessible  and  useful.  Google  Book  Search  helps  readers 
discover  the  world's  books  while  helping  authors  and  publishers  reach  new  audiences.  You  can  search  through  the  full  text  of  this  book  on  the  web 


at|http  :  //books  .  google  .  com/ 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Startling  Facts 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


N.  B.  WOLFE,  M.D. 


"SUPPRESSIO    VERI,     SUGGESTIO     FALSI." 


Second   Edition. 


CHICAGO: 

RELIGIO-PHILOSOPHICAL  PUBLISHING  HOUSE. 

FOR   SALE    BY 

CoLBV  &  Rich,  Boston;  A.  J.  Davis  &  Co.,  New  York;  Robert  Clarke, 

Cincinnati;   H.  Snow,  San  Francisco.    Foreign  Agencies'.  J.  Burns, 

London;  Victor  Alexi,  Paris;  W.  H.  Terry, 

Melbourne,  Australia. 

1875. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873, 

BY  N.  B.  WOLFE, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


INTRODUCTORY. 


'T^HIS  book  contains  a  record  of  mental  and 
physical  phenomena  witnessed  by  the  author, 
for  which  is  claimed  a  supernatural  origin.  It  may 
properly  be  called  a  Journal  of  his  personal  experi- 
ence for  twenty-five  years,  while  investigating  the 
various  phases  of  modern  Spiritualism. 

When  making  his  researches  in  this  department 
of  human  science,  he  neglected  no  fair  opportu- 
nity for  obtaining  the  most  reliable  information  ap- 
pertaining to  the  facts  presented  to  his  senses  and 
appealing  to  his  judgment  for  indorsement 

His  object  has  been  to  ascertain  by  indubitable 
testimony  whether  ''if  a  man  die  he  can  live  again," 
and  if  so,  is  it  possible  for  him  to  make  the  fact  of 
his  existence  known  to  those  who  dwell  on  the 
earth  ? 

When  he  began  to  pursue  these  inquiries  he  had 
no  reliable  evidence  that  there  was  any  life,  after 
death  had  fixed  its  seal  upon  the  human  form.  To 
his  mind,    all    animal    existence  depended  upon    the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


IV  INTRODUCTORY. 

presence  of  the  "  animating  breath,"  and  in  its  ab- 
sence the  heart  stopped,  consciousness  was  lost, 
and  the  sun  of  life  set,  in  an  atheistic  sky— a  ray- 
less  and  eternal  night. 

He  was  not  ignorant  of  the  Biblical  and  ecclesias- 
tical assurances  of  the  existence  of  an  after-life;  but 
these  were  so  vague,  contradictory,  or  fantastically 
stated,  and  the  inheritance  of  their  Utopia  sub- 
ject to  so  many  contingencies  of  "vicarious  atone- 
ments" and  **  plans  of  salvation,"  that  they,  instead 
of  removing  his  doubts,  confirmed  his  unbelief. 
Writers  and  speakers  there  were  in  abundance,  each 
advocating  some  individual  **  scheme  "  or  **  plan  "  for 
securing  the  comforts  of  the  after-life  ;  yet  in  their 
zeal  to  gain  the  "flesh  pots"  they  neglected  to  pre- 
sent the  "proof  palpable"  that  an  after-life,  really  did 
exist.  By  this  omission  they  leave  a  stumbling-block 
in  the  pathway  of  millions.  In  sensible  accord 
with  a  German  atheist  it  may  be  asked,  "What's  the 
use  of  talking  about  'plans'  and  *  schemes  '  to  gain 
the  after-life,  when  there  ain't  no  after-life?"  You 
can  not  catch  whales  in  a  mill-pond,  because  there 
are  none  there  to  be  caught.  There  is  an  old  adage 
which  says,  "You  must  never  cook  a  lobster  till  you 
catch  him." 

No  manly  mind  cmi  believe  without  evidence. 
Immaterial  faith  will  not  create  material  facts.     The 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


INTRODUCTORY,  v 

fact  must  first  exist,  then  you  can  have  faith  in  it.  It 
is  useless  to  try  to  terrify  a  free  mind  with  the 
priestly  penalty  of  unbelief-—'''  damnation  to  the  soul.'* 
It  will  not  be  frightened  into  the  admission  of  a 
monstrous  lie.  In  their  frenzy  priests  may  curse 
the  man  who  unflinchingly  stands  by  the  rectitude  of 
his  own  heart  until  their  throats  crack  with  profanity  ; 
but  they  can  not  scorch  one  hair  of  his  head,  and  the 
maniacs  know  it. 

The  foregoing  will  show  the  dark  condition  of 
the  author's  mind  when  he  began  to  study  the  al- 
phabet of  spiritual  literature,  consisting  of  **  table- 
tipping"  and  *' spirit-rapping."  Such  manifesta- 
tions were  of  profound  interest  to  him  until  the 
Buffalo  doctors  and  Rochester  priests  discovered 
that  the  "  tips  and  taps "  were  produced  by  the 
double-jointed  toes  of  the  Fox  girls.  This  learned 
exposure  of  the  impostors  it  was  thought  would  be 
•fatal  to  Spiritualism,  and  so,  after  laying  out  its  form 
and  sprinkling  holy  water  in  its  face,  they  ''con- 
signed it  to  the  tomb  of  the  Capulets,"  never  again 
to  be  resurrected. 

In  this  exhibition  of  high  farce  and  low  comedy 
we  see  in  what  manner  science  and  religion  greeted 
spiritual  manifestations  twenty-five  years  ago  in  the 
cities  of  Buffalo  and  Rochester,  New  York. 

If  these   fellows   had   been  competent  to    rightly 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


VI  INTRODUCTORY. 

interpret  *' the  tips  and  taps"  of  the  invisibles, 
instead  of  indulging  in  such  silly  clap-trap  to 
please  idiots  and  allay  the  ghosts,  they  would 
have  addressed  their  fellow-men  with  candor  and 
told  them  frankly,  for  the  sake  of  truth,  to  in- 
vestigate these  mysterious  manifestations  of  power 
and  intelligence  carefully  and  patiently,  because  if 
they  originate  with  spirits,  as  claimed,  and  declare  the 
verity  of  the  after-life,  nothing  can  prevent  their 
final  recognition  and  universal  acceptance.  Truth 
is  a  positive  principle,  that  pervades  and  sustains  all 
the  phenomena  of  nature,  and  it  is  at  once  both  the 
endowment  and  the  glory  of  the  human  soul.  The 
mind,  in -the  pursuit  of  truth,  will  rise  to  lofty  pinna- 
cles of  thought,  and  find  no  resting-place  but  in  the 
bosom  of  eternal  verities.  It  scales  empyrean  heights 
to  count  the  stars,  and  will  not  be  satisfied  until  a 
knowledge  of  the  laws  regulating  their  movements  is 
obtained  ;  when  left  untrammeled  by  fear,  and  not 
degraded  by  ignorance  and  superstition,  it  will  create 
forces  which  cause  the  human  soul  to  develop  in 
beauty  and  grace,  and  grow  in  intellectual  strength 
and  moral  grandeur,  until  qualified  to  take  its  posi- 
tion in  that  celestial  Valhalla  where  is  held  the 
senate  of  the  gods. 

As    already  intimated,  this  book  contains  an  ac- 
count of  startling   and   significant  phenomena  which 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


INTRODUCTORY,  Vii 

have  occurred  in  the  presence  of  the  author.  To  his 
mind,  these  manifestations  of  the  spirit-world  pro- 
claim the  dawn  of  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the 
htcman  race,  the  importance  of  which  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  men  he  does  not  pretend  to  estimate. 

While  making  this  record  he  has  not  paused  to 
consider  the  influence  it  may  exert  upon  the  minds  of 
men.  Truth  has  a  good  character  for  taking  care  of 
itself  It  was  enough  for  him  to  know  that  he  was 
dealing  with  facts,  and  his  business  was  simply  to 
arrange  these  facts  for  the  critical  inspection  of  the 
mind's  eye.  If  he  has  failed  to  perform  this  service 
well,  no  one  will  'more  sincerely  deplore  the  derelic- 
tion than  himself;  for  the  tribulation  of  the  world's 
great  heart  finds  its  source  in  perverted  views  of  life, 
and  every  successful  effort  to  supplant  ignorance  with 
knowledge  saves  mankind  from  physical  pain  and 
mental  anguish. 

It  will  be  seen  throughout  the  book  that  the 
author  has  not  hesitated  to  express  freely  his  per- 
sonal opinions  whenever  occasion  seemed  to  require. 
He  has  done  this  with  no  view  of  begging  favor 
for  the  facts  presented ;  neither  does  he  care 
whether  the  reader  likes  them  or  not.  He  has 
written  them  because  they  are  crystallized  con- 
victions of  his  mind,  and  he  makes  no  effort  to  dis- 
guise them  in  wordy  superfluity. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


viii  INTRODUCTORY, 

He  asks  the  ingenuous  reader  to  discriminate  be- 
tween the  author's  opi7tions  of  a  fact  and  the  fact 
itself.  The  first  are  of  but  little  value,  because 
they  are  personal,  and  may  be  swayed  from  the 
plumb-line  of  rectitude  by  the  common  infirmities  of 
man's  nature  ;  but  the  latter  are  of  paramount  interest 
to  all  men,  because  they  co-exist  with  all  tim«e, 
seeking  neither  place  nor  applause,  nor  bowing  at 
any  human  shrine.  They  should  be  espoused  with 
love  and  served  with  reverence. 


146  Smith 

CiNCINNAT 


iiTH  Street,         ] 
L^i,  O.,  July,  1875.  J 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE. 

I—Personal  recollection  of  witch- 
craft. 

2 — A  child's  perplexities  and  im- 
pressions ;  Saving  power  of 
horse-shoes;  Witclies  in  Queen 
Elizabeth's  time. 

3 — Sam  Wade's  marvelous  story 
of  old  Bets  Parks. 

4 — Receipt  for  killing  a  witch; 
How  Uncle  Joe  did  it. 

5 — Salem  and  Hebrew  witch- 
craft ;  First  experience  near 
Ebensburg,  Penn. 

6 — How  it  hapj^ened  ;  Tom  Evans 
accused  of  witchcraft. 

7 — Wit  of  a  wizard ;  His  appli- 
cation of  the  black  art  to  Lloyd's 
child. 

8— A  puzzled  'squire  ;  No  law  for 
wizards. 

9— Volunteers  to  visit  Lloyd  ;  The 
sheriff  and  his  posse ;  Lloyd's 
house. 

10 — Lloyd's  family ;  The  bewitched 
girl. 

II— Symptoms  of  trouble  ;  A  pail 
upsets  itself;  A  chair  takes  a 
walk. 

12 — Antics  of  holy  and  profane 
books;    General    jamboree   of 


PAGE. 

furniture;  Dodging  the  pie- 
pans. 

13 — Consultation  of  noodles;  Is 
it  Tom  or  the  devil  ? 

14 — A  saddle  that  takes  wings  ; 
A  stubborn  trundle-bed;  End 
of  the  witch-show. 

15— Confusion  of  conclusions ; 
Substitution  of  tenant ;  All 
things  governed  by  law. 

16 — Intelligence  against  supersti- 
tion. 

CHAPTER  IL 

17— Columbia,  Penn.;  New  York 

Tribune ow  Rochester  Knockings. 
18— A   family  resemblance   to  the 

witchcraft  in  Cambria  County; 

Table-tipping  in  Little  York. 
19 — A  circle  improvised  ;  A  nim- 
ble-footed    mahogany     on     the 

"double  quick." 
20 — Gets     the     sulks     *' heavy;'* 

But  polite  to  Aunt. 
21 — Under  the   ban  of  suspicion  ; 

Honored  overmuch  ;   A  clerical 

invitation. 
22 — And    what  became  of  it ;   A 

double    slander,    the   devil  and 

myself  the  victims. 

IX 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

?-3 — A  lie  hurts  ;  Science  and  the 
imponderable  forces. 

24 — The  table  in  a  new  role ;  It 
"  utterelh  speech  ;"  Definition 
of  language. 

25— Table  proclamation  ;  Counts 
a  hundred;  "The  devil,  a 
preacher  was  he." 

26 — Charles  Odell  still  lives  ;  Un- 
settles my  belief. 

27 — A  spirit-world  and  an  after- 
life begin  to  dawn ;  A  new 
era ;  Spirit-raps  in  Harrisburg. 

28— Legislators  consulting  the 
spirits;  Wells  Coverly  a  me- 
dium. 

29— A  visit  to  the  Queen's  Bush, 
Canada. 

30 — Surprised  by  Mr.  Burrows  ; 
A  spirit-medium  in  the  neigh- 
borhood-k 

31 — A  huge  story  about  St.  Cris- 
pin ;  Writing  by  the  barrel- 
ful  ;  The  origin  of  a  fire 
disclosed  by  a  spirit. 

32 — The  shoe-maker  medium ;  My 
uncle  writes  his  name. 

33 — And  identifies  himself;  Ex- 
plains his  joke. 

34 — And  writes  of  family  matters. 


CHAPTER  III. 

35— The  Pulpit  and  Press  denounce 
mediums;  Interest  flags. 

36— Spiritual  literature  ;  Standard 
works;  Facts  wanted. 

37 — A  great  riddle  to  be  solved ; 
Investigation  must  go  on  ;  Want 
knowledge  of  the  after-life. 

38 — The  Yankees  recognize  spirit 
intercourse ;  Have  good  me- 
diums ;  Go  to  see  them. 


PAGE. 

39 — Meet  J.  V.  Mansfield;  Be- 
come an  inmate  of  his  house. 

40 — A  man's  character  best  seen 
in  his  own  house ;  Watch  him 
closely. 

41 — Speak  of  him  as  I  know  him  ; 
A  rebuke  to  his  revilers ;  Be- 
lieve him  to  be  an  honest  man. 

42 — How  to  criticise  ;  A  drunken 
tinker  wants  to  explain  ;  Sealed 
letters. 

43 — Spirit  postmaster. 

44 — How  he  answers  letters  ;  His 
cunning  finger, 

45 — Style  of  writing  names  ;  The 
writer  nonplussed ;  How  he  ad- 
dresses letters. 

46 — An  affecting  incident;  A  let- 
ter from  a  spirit-son  to  his 
widowed  mother. 

47 — Mansfield's  anxiety  ;  A  letter 
recalled;  A  pathetic  statement. 

48 — How  influenced  "to  write  ; 
Writes  with  both  hands  two 
letters,  and  converses  at  the 
same  time. 

49 — Writing  with  two  hands,  and 
also  clairvoyant;  Utilizing  the 
medium. 

50 — Exhausting  the  medium ;  Feel- 
ing father  Pierpont's  presence 
in  the  city  ;  The  poet  comes  in. 

51 — ^Just  from  New  York ;  Hunting 
a  medium  by  the  name  of  Hyde, 

52 — Finds  Mrs.  Hyde,  and  inter- 
views his  spirit-wife ;  Spiritual 
discernment  limited  to  spiritual 
relationship. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

54— Spirits  retain  their  personal 
characteristics ;  Teach  what  they 
believe  to  be  true ;  Liable  to  err. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


55— Spirits ;  Information  limited 
to  personal  experience. 

56 — Do  not  limit  knowledge  ;  Be 
calm,  and  not  overcredulous ; 
Common  sense  a  good  stan- 
dard; Who  to  address  in  the 
spirit -world. 

57 — The  effect  of  living  in  an  at- 
mosphere of  mediumship ;  How 
I  investigated  ;  How  my  letters 
were  answered. 

58 — Astonishing  answers;  A  let- 
ter to  Robert  Speer. 

59 — Who  can  answer  it  as  he  did? 
A  pictorial  reply. 

60 — Startling  tests  given  by  j^ic- 
tures. 

61 — "Mother  is  here;"  Explana- 
tions and  personal  history. 

62 — No  theory  yet  given  to  ex- 
plain this  phenomenon. 

d^i — Mother  Speer  identifies  her- 
self, though  not  called  for; 
Writes  a  note. 

64 — Her  great  impartiality  ;  Care 
of  buttons. 

65 — A  pleasant  memory;  Testi- 
mony in  favor  of  spirit  inter- 
course. 

66— Have  seen  a  thousand  let- 
ters answered;  Queer,  cowardly 
people ;  Black  veils  and  mufflers. 

(}"] — My  hyena  up ;  A  child  re- 
bukes her  parents;  Gets  their 
eyes  open. 

68 — Terminate  my  investigation 
with  Mansfield ;  The  result  of  it. 

CHAPTER  V. 

69 — Caution  to  investigators  ;  Me- 
diums not  at  all  times  reliable. 

70 — L.  Judd  Pardee  ;  Business  ; 
His  oratory. 

71 — Peculiarities  ;  Entranced. 


72 — Power  as  a  speaker;  His 
shut-eye  business  a  sham  ;  Ex- 
planation. 

73 — A  splendid  memory,  and 
self-duped  spiritualists. 

74 — Pardee  knows  better  ;  The 
Nazarene  not  within  a  thousand 
miles  of  him;  A  polar  wave 
not  so  cool  as  he. 

75 — No  better  than  a  preacher ; 
Distrust  trance-speakers  ;  Miss 
Emma  Hardinge  shams  en- 
trancement,  and  assumes  maid- 
enhood ;  Thomas  G.  Forster 
affects  Dayton,  with  his  eyes 
shut. 

76 — Chews  tobacco  and  quotes 
Scripture  ;  Miss  Lizzie  Doten 
a  stupid  imitator  of  shut-eye 
mediums. 

77 — The  suppression  of  truth  the 
suggestion  of  falsehood ;  Bar- 
nacles to  the  ship  ;  John  M. 
Speer. 

78 — A  Modoc  trance-medium  ; 
A  missionary  rascal. 

79 — He  proposes  a  government, 
himself  the  theocrat ;  How  he 
makes  citizens  while  his  eyes 
are  shut. 

80 — A  capital  speech ;  Not  re- 
ported by  Carrie. 

81 — A  man  ruined  by  the  im- 
postor ;  I  try  to  arouse  him,  but 
too  late. 

82 — A    soap-bath    and     hat-thief 

Z-T^ — No  sympathy  with  trick- 
sters ;  E.  V.  Wilson  not  re- 
liable. 

84 — Several  of  his  mistakes  ;"Holt 
alive. 

85 — An  infatuated  woman. 

86 — Sam  Patch  and  she  ;  She  and 
Sam  Patch. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS, 


87 — A  trifle  ambiguous  ;  But  up 
and  at  it  again. 

88 — Samuel's  faculties  rather  ob- 
fuscated ;  Keep  my  own  coun- 
sels until  Mansfield  speaks. 
^89 — Never  trust  a  secret  to  a 
married  man;  I  did,  and  see 
what  follows !  Putty  waxeth 
wroth. 

90— Andrew  Jackson  Davis  in  a 
tight  place ;  Go  to  his  relief; 
The  co7ip  de  grace ;  "  Nelly  was 
a  lady,"  and  handsome. 

91— A  complicated  case  of  pro- 
prietorship ;  Who  was  in  ?  Who 
was  out  ? 

92— Her  mission  fulfilled. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

93— Physical  and  mental  spirit- 
ualism ;  How  classified. 

94~Examine  all  testimony  well  ; 
People  born  with  perverted 
judgments. 

95— Dig  deep  for  the  truth ; 
The  grand  possibilities  of  man  ; 
Distinguish  between  mental  and 
supersensuous  phenomena. 

96 — Mixed  mediumship  ;  Davis 
and  Harris  pure  mediums. 

97 — Fair  dealing ;  Facts  will 
outlive  sophistries  ;  Fancies  of 
no  value. 

98— Thought  is  the  standard  of 
Manhood  ;  The  thoughtless 
thing ;  Bigots  and  dogmatists 
curse  the  world  with  organiza- 
tion ;  Spiritualism  a  science. 

99— No  priesthood  ;  Majorities  not 
always  right ;  Believe  or  be 
damned  ;  Death  to  manhood. 

100 — Accept  the  priest,  and  be  a 
slave  for  life;   A  Dutch  edition 


PA  Git. 

of  Thomas  Starr  King  ;  Colonel 
Baker  in  a  vile  place  ;  Disgust 
all  round. 

loi — The  groundlings  laugh  while 
the  judici.ous  grieve  ;  Spiritual- 
ism oppressed  by  such  media ; 
Tawdry  plans  of  salvation  at  a 
discount. 

102 — Rebellion  in  the  land  ;  My 
convictions  of  truth  ;  Logic  of 
the  Oriental  prince ;  A  long 
interval  of  rest. 

103 — Death  of  mother  ;  The  law 
of   Change  ;  No    fear  of  death. 

104 — Her  views  of  age  ;  Visions 
and  clairaudience  its  comple- 
ment ;  Her  sister  speaks. 

105— The  senses  clarified  by 
age ;  Old  black  Timothy  sees 
Jesus  ;  Mother  sees  her  brothers 
and  sisters  ;  Selfishness  destroys 
happiness. 

106 — God  acts  by  general  laws ; 
Lamentations  at  the  funeral  ; 
Commanded  to  speak;  Cus- 
tomary suits  of  woe  disre- 
garded. 

107— A  cheerful  view  of  death ; 
Its  natural  law  a  door  through 
which  we  enter ;  Mr.  Davis's 
description  of  a  spirit  leaving 
the  body. 

I  ID — The  composition  of  a  body. 

114 — Liebig's  Chemical  Analysis 
of  a  Body. 

115 — His  remarks  ;  It  is  gabble 
to  talk  of  resurrection  ;  Physical 
dissolution  is  eternal. 

116— Spiritual  life  eternal;  Mother 
lives ;  In  retirement. 

117 — A  lady's  letter,  with  a 
postscript ;  Mrs.  Hollis's  name ; 
First  time. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PAGR. 

Ii8— The  ladies  did  not  keep 
their  promise ;  Come  at  tea- 
time  ;  Mrs.  Wood  explains. 

119 — Introduces  Mrs.  Mollis;  An 
old  citizen  \  By  accident  a 
Hoosier. 

120 — Dedicated  to  the  work  of 
the  spirit- world  ;  Personal  ap- 
pearance. 

i2i~Ho\v  she  appears  to  several 
editors. 

122— A  dark  circle  proposed  ; 
Davis's  opinions  of  dark  circles. 

123 — Do  n't  like  dark  circles  : 
Go  in  under  mental  protest. 

124 — Prejudice  ;  Churlishness. 

125 — Suspicions  of  the  trumpet. 

126- — Ray  less  majesty  ;  Mrs.  Hol- 
lis  sees  sick  spirits  ;  A  spirit 
physician, 

127— Mrs.  llollis  in  terror  ;  An 
explanation  ;   Spirit  magnetism. 

128 — Spirits  in  a  horn  ;  Mrs.  Mol- 
lis explains. 

129 — Confab  ;   Object  of  the  horn. 

130 — A  giant  Indian  speaks  loud  ; 
Taking  notes  ;  He  assists  others. 

131— Skiwaukek  is  his  name; 
Dark  circle  in  another  room , 
'i'lie  French  doctor  again  ;  The 
effect   of  disease  on    the  spirit. 

132— A  new  theory  of  disease ; 
And  positive  and  negative  re- 
lations. 

133 — A  spirit-bull ;  O,  but  you're 
smart ! 

134 — The  seance  a  failure  ;  The 
conditions  were  too  bad. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

135 — Conceit ;  A  question  to  ask 
a  lady  ;  Taken  to  task. 


PAGB. 

136^— Embarrassment  and  fiddle- 
sticks; Close  reading;  Slate- 
writing. 

137— Another  putty  medium; 
Hospitality. 

138 — Barkis  is  willin' ;  A  misap- 
prehension ;  Spirits  write. 

139 — A  question  of  hands  and 
wings;  Mrs.  Plollis  don't  touch 
the  pencil  ;  The  manifestation 
speaks  for  itself. 

140 — Writing  in  a  light  room  ; 
All  foir. 

141 — Hear  the  writing  ;  The 
medium's  composure ;  The 
writing  for  me. 

142 — ^From  Emma  Francis  ;  Mrs. 
Wood  quizzical. 

143 — What  is  it.?  Badinage; 
Much. 

144 — I  don't  know;  The  thing; 
Another  experiment ;  Slate 
marked. 

145 — Scanning  the  situation;  Writ- 
ing heard  ;  Shawl  removed  be- 
fore the  slate  is  withdrawn. 

146 — A  remarkable  communica- 
tion from  Nolan  ;  An  array  of 
names  given  ;  A  dilemma. 

147— Mrs.  Wood  in  a  funny  mood  ; 
Wants  to  send  for  Barnum. 

148 — Cowardice  ;  Bravado  ;  Fear  ; 
Gutter-snipes. 

149 — Stick  to  a  lie  ;  Fashion ; 
Mission  of  spiritualism. 

150 — Turn  the  argument ;  James 
Nolan  not  a  Frenchman  ;  Second 
dark  circle. 

151 — Music  and  worship. 

152 — Hear  something  ;  A  racket  ; 
Ajiprehension  ;  Mrs.  Wood's 
little  boy  calls  his  pet  dog. 

153— Mother  and  child  talk; 
Both  speaking  at  once  ;  Decep- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS, 


tion    impossible ;    My     mother 

speaks. 
154 — Can     not     continue  ;      Jim 

Nolan  speaks  for  her  ;  Try  the 

spirits  ;  Gives  her  full  name. 
155 — Curious     statement    of    her 

age ;    Names   all    her    brothers 

and  sisters  ;  Her   two   children 

in  spirit-life. 
156 — Her   children   living   in    the 

order  of  their  birth  ;  The  "big" 

Indian  "  whoops." 
157— Calls    me    "old   chief,"  and 

surprises    me   with    a   test ;    A 

curious   reminiscence  of  family 

history. 
158 — How  I  received  my  name. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

160 — Confusion  of  ideas  ;  Shilly- 
shally. 

162 — The  eye  and  ear  attest  ;  No 
motive  for  deception ;  Could 
not  deceive  if  they  had. 

163 — Mediums  should  have  better 
characters  than  preachers  ;  Visit 
Louisville. 

164 — The  medium  at  home  ;  Slate- 
writing  to  strangers  ;  They  weep. 

165 — A  disguised  preacher  and 
his  wife  ;  Mrs.  Hollis  expresses 
hersel  f. 

166 — Preachers  and  editors  led  by 
the  nose  ;  Shams. 

167 — The  medium  a  trifle  excited  ; 
Do  n't  love  her  defamers. 

168-— No  charge  for  manifesta- 
tions ;  Falsehood. 

169 — Ask  to  be  informed  how  Mrs. 
Hollis  became  a  spiritualist  and 
medium ;  Advise  her  to  charge 
for  her  time. 

170 — An  account  of  her  medium- 


ship  ;  A  spectral  man  ;  Spirits 
talk  in  her  presence. 

171 — Pink-root  and  senna  ;  The 
father  murdered  ;  An  Episcopal 
bishop's  views  of  the  Fox  girls  ; 
Bad  spirits. 

172 — A  table  circle;  Her  father's 
name  given ;  Sees  her  father's 
face. 

173 — A  preacher's  devil-w^ork  ; 
Speaking  the  truth  ;  Decline  of 
health. 

174 — Spirits  repeat  the  Episcopal 
funeral  service  ;  Was  it  a  warn- 
ing t  Sudden  death  of  her  sister  ; 
A  needed  physician. 

175 — He  discovereth  Dr.  Frank- 
lin's letter. 

176 — Absurd;  A  zany  bishop. 

177 — The  doctor  a  trifle  befogged; 
God  is  impersonal  and  can  not 
be  worshiped ;  Spiritualism  is 
the  reh'gion  of  science ;  Has 
many  preachers. 

178 — Teachings  of  Nature;  Re- 
spectability ;  Mrs.  Hollis  has  it 
bad. 

179 — Consents  to  visit  a  spirit- 
medium;  Old  gray-beard;  De- 
livers a  spirit-message ;  How 
it  affects  Mrs.  Hollis. 

180 — Visits  a  medium ;  Entranced ; 
A  message  from  her  father. 

181— Holds  circles  at  home  ;  Her 
sister's  face  in  a  spirit-light. 

182 — Loses  the  fear  of  death; 
Friends  turn  away ;  Taken 
spirit- vows  ;  Her  metal. 

183— A  dark  circle  ;  Spirits  sing  a 
German  song. 

184— "Kukuk;"  Kukuk. 

185 — Spirits  sing  with  Dr.  Preiss- 
ler ;  Jim  Nolan  speaks ;  A 
message  from  my  mother. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


1 86 — Spirits  not  capable  of  ad- 
vising ;  A  mother's  weakness ; 
Ney  and  Josephine  announced ; 
Nolan  on  the  stand  j  Wicked 
saints. 

1 88 — ^Job's  sores  ;  A  bad  case  of 
scrofula ;  Tell  the  truth. 

189 — The  Rosicrucians ;  St.  Hog; 
Purpose  of  life. 

190 — Spirit-lights  ;  Spirit-hand;  A 
spirit-face. 

CHAPTER  X. 

191 — Desire  for  more  information; 
Engagement  with   Mrs.    Hollis. 

192— Her  conditions;  Resume  of 
all  her  engagements  at  Cin- 
cinnati. 

193 — Thirty  weeks  of  investiga- 
tion ;  Beginning  a  record  of 
marvelous  incidents. 

194 — Mrs.  Plollis's  first  visit; 
Health  of  the  medium  ;  Impor- 
tance of  good  mental  condi- 
tions. 

195 — Drives  about  Cincinnati ; 
Medium  reinvigorated ;  Mate- 
rialization ;  Exhaustion  of  me- 
diumistic  power. 

196 — Possible  fatal  exhaustion  ; 
Deductions  of  the  stupid  and  ig- 
norant ;  Manly  criticism  wanted. 

197 — Forms  of  manifestation  ; 
Slate-writing  described. 

198 — First  communication  ;  Who 
is  Isaac  Pusey .? 

199 — Isaac's  memory  tested  ;  Was 
it  Isaac's  writing  ? 

200 — New  hand  at  the  slate ; 
Messages  from  old  friends  ;  "All 
here !"  Something  about  my 
nephew. 

201 — The  writing  not  Mrs.  Hol- 
li's's;  Better  tests  coming;  Pas- 


PAGE. 

siveness  the  best  mental  condi- 
tion. 

202 — Holding  the  slate  myself; 
My  hand  touched  and  caressed. 

203 — A  message  in  French  ;  Criti- 
cism on  Ney's  grammar. 

204 — Is  an  error  proof  of  impos- 
ture? The  fact  of  writing  the 
important  thing ;  Test  by  writing 
in  a  carriage. 

205 — Slate-writing  under  a  linen- 
duster  ;  Writing  in  Spring 
Grove  on  a  tombstone ;  Mes- 
sage from  old  Ski ;  **  No  spir- 
ums  here  !" 

206 — Writings  by  six  different 
spirits  ;  A  gentleman  surprised  ; 
A  message  from  his  daughter. 

207 — Peremptory  order  from  old 
Ski;  "Mejum  hungry!"  Best 
time  for  writing;  The  need  of 
darkness. 

208 — Messages  from  Ney ;  His 
views  of  Europe  in  1871  ;  Spirit- 
hands  shown  at  the  table. 

209 — More  marvelous  experi- 
ments ;  A  porle-monnaie  taken 
under  the  table  ;  Bills  taken  out 
and  replaced. 

210  — Spirits  delighted  with  their 
success ;  Looking  under  the 
table  ;  Mrs.  Hollis's  hand  and 
three  hands  seen  ;  Description 
of  them. 

211 — Whose  hands  were  they.? 
Was  it  illusion.''  The  questions 
considered. 

212 — A  doubter's  question  an- 
swered ;  Stubbornness   of  facts. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

213 — Spirit-writing  on  paper;  Its 
value. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


214— The  methed  explained  ;  First 
experiment ;  Letters  written  for 
distant  friends. 

215 — Resemblances  in  writing; 
Why  not  always  individualized ; 
Spirit  amanuensis. 

216 — A  spirit's  X  mark ;  Letter 
from  Marshal  Ney. 

217 — Fac-shnile  of  his  signature; 
Ney's  French  and  English. 

218— Verses  in  Spanish;  Trans- 
lation into  English. 

2i9-^~Speculati<)ns  as  to  the  au- 
thor ;  Object  of  giving  the 
writing, 

220 — The  hypercri tic's  theory  ; 
Fac-shnile  of  an  unexplained 
communication ;  Communica- 
tions in  various  languages. 

221 — Letter  from  Nolan  ;  Mis  an- 
nouncement of  Josephine  Bona- 
parte's presence. 

222 — Fac-shnile  of  an  autograph 
note  from  her ;  Prediction  of 
Napoleon's  reincarnation. 

223 — A  fell  de  joie  of  spirit-raps  ; 
A  chair  gets  excited  ;  Meaning 
of  the  demonstration. 

224— A  chair  chases  Mrs.  Hollis  ; 
First  letter  from  Josephine  ;  Na- 
poleon's sympathy  for  France. 

225 — Second  letter  from  Joseph- 
ine ;  Home-life  in  the  spirit- 
land  ;  Josephine's  sorrow  for 
France. 

226 — Third  letter  from  Josephine  ; 
Her  ideas  for  the  book. 

227— The  letter  continued  ;  Why 
spirits  visit  earth  ;  The  beauty 
of  death  ;  Object  of  the  spirits. 

228— Fourth  letter  from  Joseph- 
ine ;  Spirit  intercourse  no  new 
thing ;  Law  of  cause  and  effect 
unchangeable. 


229 — Fifth  letter  from  Josephine; 

The    mission    of    spiritualism ; 

Their     instrumentalities ;     Few 

qualified  for  the  work, 
230 — Spirit    detectives  ;    Possible 

exposure  of  crime  ;  An  illustra- 
tive case. 
231 — A  scandalous   missive  ;  The 

annoyance  it  caused. 
232 — Spirits  consulted  ;  Skiwaukee 

called  in  ;  The  rascal   detected. 
233 — A  shell-polisher  jijollshed. 
234 — Josephine's  sixth  letter;  Na- 

l^oleon's  executive  abilities. 

CHAPTER  XH. 

235 — Seventh. letter  from  Joseph- 
ine ;  Life's  lessons. 

236 — Progress  here  progress  here- 
after ;  No  eternal  separation ; 
Listen  to  the  spirit-voices. 

237 — Faith  without  knowledge  ; 
Dogmatic  theology;  Eighth  let- 
ter from  Josephine. 

238 — Of  spirit  manifestation  ;  Re- 
sult of  hard  work;  Nothing  to 
stand  in  the  way;  The  new 
gospel. 

239 — Why  Church  members  do  not 
develop  into  good  mediums  ; 
Ninth  letter  from  Josephine. 

240 — Reincarnation  ;  Tenth  letter  ; 
The  grand  laws  of  Nature. 

241 — Remarkable  cabinet  seance^ 
French  spirits  materialized ; 
Hortense  Bonaparte. 

242 — Her  affection  for  Napoleon  ; 
Her  marriage ;  Ney's  revela- 
tion ;  The  first  emperor  the 
father  of  the  third. 

243 — The  law  of  geniture  ;  Condi- 
tions needed  to  reproduce  pa- 
rental likenesses. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS, 


PAGE. 

244 — The  intimacies  of  Napoleon 
and  Hortense  \  Ney  too  com- 
municative, 

245 — ^Josephine's  letter  on  the 
subject ;  Louis  Napoleon  not 
an  entire  success  ;  The  reason 
for  it. 

246 — Twelfth  letter  from  Joseph- 
ine ;  Longing  for  immortality  ; 
Secret  disbelief  in  Church  dog- 
mas ;  Sin  to  be  atoned  for. 

CHAPTER  XIIL 

247 — ^^First  sounds  of  spirit  tele- 
graphing ;  Record  of  the  fact. 

248— Talk  with  Jimmy  Nolan  on 
the  subject;  A  spirit's  tele- 
graphic instrument ;  An  experi- 
ment only ;  Reflections. 

249— Spiritual  communication  with 
other  worlds  than  ours. 

250 — Suggestions  of  a  telegraph 
operator  ;  The  spirits  try  his  in- 
strument; Partial  success;  Re- 
turn of  Mrs.  Mollis  to  Louis- 
ville; Experiments  continued 
by  correspondence. 

251— Josephine's  letter  on  the  sub- 
ject ;  Her  talk  with  Franklin 
and  Morse ;  First  communica- 
tion by  telegrajDh. 

252 — The  message  from  Frank 
Stevens  ;  Am  invited  to  "  come 
and  see." 

253— Visit  to  Louisville ;  Inter- 
viewing the  spirits. 

254 — A  message  in  telegraphic 
signs  ;  Fac-sitnile  of  it. 

255 — Translation  of  Frank  Ste- 
vens's dispatch  from  the  spirit- 
land  ;  Frank's  determination  to 
persevere ;  A  business  proposi- 
tion to  telegraphic  operators. 


PACE. 

256 — Chance  for  a  small  fortune ; 
Jimmy  Nolan's  opinion  of  spirit 
telegraphy. 

257 — What  the  spirits  need ;  A 
spirit  telegraph  company  to  be 
organized ;  All  invention  from 
the  spirit-world. 

258 — Telegraphing  without  wires 
in  the  spirit-land ;  Mode  of 
operating    by   electric  currents. 

259 — The  celestial  system  to  be 
made  terrestrial ;  Telegraphing 
between  the  two  worlds. 

260 — Metaphysical  discussion  with 
Jimmy  Nolan  ;  The  suspension- 
bridge  ;  Was  it  Roebling's  in- 
vention ? 

261 — Mind  and  body;  Mind's  re- 
lation to  matter. 

262 — The  bridge  an  expression 
of  a  pre-existing  idea;  Roebling 
the  medium  of  its  expression  ; 
All  men  mediums  of  spiritual 
impressions. 

263 — Jimmy  rhapsodizes  ;  A  plain 
question;  Could  the  bridge  have 
been  built  without  Roebling's 
superintendence .? 

264 — Nolan's  reply  ;  Brain  theory 
versus  mind  theory. 

265 — Descartes's  hypothesis  ;  The 
center  of  mind. 

266 — The  bridge  the  shadow  of 
an  idea ;  The  shadow  perisha- 
ble, the  idea  eternal. 

267 — Chemical  elements  of  bodies; 
What  makes  the  difference  be- 
tween man  and  animals. 

268 — All  ideas  inspirational ;  Law 
discovers  man,  not  man  law. 

269 — Value  of  brave  thinkers  ; 
What  of  the  average  man  as  a 
spirit. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

PAGE. 

270 — Good-bye  to  the  spirits ;  A 
host  of  spirit-names. 

271 — Facsimiles  of  spirit  signa- 
tures. 

272— Private  communications  to 
Congressman  Gofoith  and  Colo- 
nel ])onn  Piatt. 

273 — Colonel  Piatt's  reply  ;  Start- 
ling facts  ;  Why  spirits  some- 
times fail  to  individualize  them- 
selves. 

274 — The  subject  continued. 

275 — A  remarkable  expression  ; 
"  The  while  bread  of  h'fe." 

276— Mrs.  llollis's  vision;  An 
Oriental  picture. 

277 — Tlie  voice  out  of  the  vision  ; 
Import  of  the  vision  ;  An  inter- 
prelation  asked. 

278 — Fac-simile  of  an  extraordinary 
communication  ;  Josephine's  in- 
terpretation of  the  vision  ;  Mo- 
hammed   renounces   his   errors. 

279 — Qui  l)ono'i  Facts  recorded; 
Others  left  to  explain  them ; 
Promised  manifestations. 

280 — Testimony  on  compulsion  ; 
Moral  cowards. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

281 — The  dark  circle  ;  Sitting  in 
the  dark  ;  Acuteness  of  hearing. 

282 — Character  in  tone  of  voice  ; 
The  real  man  evoked  in  spirit 
presence. 

283 — A  deceiver  undeceived  ; 
Intelligent  people  preferred. 

284 — Music  in  Church  worship  ; 
Its  use  in  the  dark  circle. 

285 — My  investment  in  a  music- 
box  ;  The  spirits  satisfied  ;  Be- 


ginning of  dark-circle  manifes- 
tations. 

286 — Spirit-concerts  ;  Twenty  test- 
songs  ;  Spirit  lights  ;  Their  ap- 
pearance. 

287— Spirit  touches  and  clapping 
of  hands. 

288 — Spirit-raps  in  the  dark  circle  ; 
Their  startling  force;  Old  Ski's 
lessons  to  rude  visitors. 

289 — Old  Ski  a  gentle  savage  ; 
Anna  Hancock,  a  spirit-child, 
makes  rosettes  in  the  dark;  Her 
doll -baby. 

290 — Feats  of  spirit-power ;  A 
floating  orchestra  ;  Ski  offended. 

291 — His  love  fen-  red  colors  ;  His 
blanket  missing  ;  He  ransacks 
wardrobe  and  bureau  for  it  ; 
Things  lying  around  loose, 

292 — A  family  seance ;  Love- 
feast  of  celestial  melody  ; 
Chanting  the  Episcopal  service  ; 
Mrs.  Hollis  floated  along  the 
ceiling. 

293 — Her  pleading  to  be  let 
down  ;  Her  fright  ;  Spirit  reas- 
surances ;  One  in  a  million  of 
women. 

294 — Cause  of  her  terror ;  Mag- 
netic relation  of  the  body  and 
brain. 

295 — Mrs.  Hollis  again  lifted  to 
tiie  ceiling;  Pencil-marks  of 
her  aerial  movements ;  Seeing 
clairvoyantly  in  the  dark. 

296 — Anatomical  construction  of 
the  eye. 

397 — Effect  upon  it  of  long  sittijig 
in  the  dark. 

298 — Tests  of  spirit  clairvoyant 
power  ;  Ski  holds  a  lady  to  her 
promise. 

299 — The    red    feather ;    Ski   dis- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS, 


PAGE. 

appointed ;  "JEm  old  chicken- 
feather  !" 

300 — Ney's  drawing  in  the  dark  ; 
Unsuccessful  efforts  ;  The  final 
result ;  Difficulties  of  spirit 
manifestations. 

301 — Fiic-shnile  of  Ney's  drawing. 

302 — Mrs.  Hollis's  spirit-band  ; 
Jim  Nolan's  vocal  power. 

CHAPTERXVI. 

303— About  a  cabinet ;  Divided 
opinions  among  the  spirits ; 
Orders  to  John  H.  Brown. 

304 — Diagram  of  cabinet-room  ; 
Description  of  cabinet. 

305 — Mrs.  Hollis  in  the  cabinet ; 
Music  called  for  ;  Racket  among 
the  invisibles. 

306 — Spirits  look  like  shadows  ; 
Second  endeavor  of  the  me- 
dium; Sand-paper  sounds. 

307 — A  brown  hand  at  the  aper- 
ture; The  medium's  sight  im- 
perfect ;  Two  little  hands ;  A 
ruh-a-dub ;    Carpet    thrown  out. 

308 — A  man's  arm  through  the 
aperture  ;  The  condition  of  the 
medium  explained  by  Jim  Nolan. 

309 — Could  the  spirits  write  in 
the  light  ?  Slate  and  pencil 
fixed  for  them  ;  Order  in  War- 
saw. 

310 — Spirits  write  in  the  light ; 
Marshal  Ney  on  the  situation  ; 
'I'he  cross  of  honor. 

311 — Three  spirit-hands;  A  gold 
ring  ;  Communication  from  Ney; 
Again  in  the  cabinet ;  Ten 
hands  in  ten  minutes ;  Two, 
threes,  and  fives. 

312 — A  recess  ;  See  my  mother's 
face;     "Why,    mother!     is    it 


PAGE. 

possible  ?"  Spoke  my  name  ; 
Presented  her  left-hand  for  rec- 
ognition. 

313 — Peculiarity  of  her  fore-finger  ; 
Proof  positive ;  Respect  my 
own  judgment ;  Josephine  will 
salute. 

3 14 — Swings  a  spirit-handkerchief; 
Presents  flowers  ;  Writes  a  com- 
munication ;  Ney  pats  my  hand. 

315 — Josephine's  face  material- 
ized :  Phantom  flowers ;  A 
bearded  face  at  the  aperture 
playing  a  French  harp  ;  Ney  in 
regimentals  materialized. 

316 — Seen  for  an  instant,  and 
melted  into  air. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

317 — New  cabinet  and  new  pro- 
gramme ;  My  published  state- 
ment ;  Newspaper  unfriendli- 
ness. 

318 — Other'  witnesses  wanted  ; 
Mrs.  Hollis's  fourth  engage- 
ment; The  new  cabinet. 

319 — First  manifestations  in  it ; 
Spirit-hands;  My  mother's  face 
materialized  and  recognized. 

320— Invitation  to  the  public  ; 
The  conditions. 

.321 — Character  of  the  responses  ; 
The  witnesses  wanted. 

yi2 — Visit  Mr.  Charles  Reemelin ; 
The  subject  opened. 

323 — A  German  philosopher  who 
knows  all  about  it. 

324 — Personal  antagonism ;  Cir- 
cumstances under  which  Purcell 
and  Mansfield  would  be  of  one 
mind. 

325 — A  cabinet  seance]  Faces  of 
friends  and  relatives  recognized 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


326 — A  second  seance;  A  mother's 
heart  to  be  made  glad. 

327 — The  shining  visitors  ;  Chil- 
dren's faces  and  voices;  A 
warning ;  Beware  of  the  wine- 
cup. 

328 — Interview  with  F.  B.  Plimp- 
ton ;  The  proposition  to  inves- 
tigate. 

329— His  report  in  the  Cincin- 
nati Commercial ;  "The  border- 
land." 

330 — Mr,  Plimpton's  report  con- 
tinued. 

33 1— Slate-writing. 

332 — Mr.  Plimpton's  conclusions. 

333— His  cabinet  experiences. 

334 — He  recognizes  the  faces  of 
M.  D.  Potter  and  his  sister 
Mary. 

335 — Other  faces  and  hands  ;  Mr. 
Plimpton's  peculiarities  of  the 
materializations. 

336 — Mr.  Plimpton  in  the  dark 
circle. 

337 — He  interviews  Jimmy  Nolan  ; 
Conditions  of  the   spirit-world. 

338 — Sympathies  with  their  earth- 
friends  ;  Moral  responsibility ; 
Nolan's  account  of  himself; 
Nolan's  test. 

339 — Conclusion  of  the  report; 
Observations  on  the  manifesta- 
tions. 

340 — As  an  act  of  good  faith. 

CHAPTER  XVni. 

341 — Hon.  Wm.  M.  Corry  in- 
vited ;  Joint  investigation  with 
Mr.  Plimpton. 

342 — Other  seances, 

343 — Faces  of  Lizzie  Odell,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Parker,  Robert  Gra- 


PAGE. 

ham,  Katie  Kerns,  and  Celia 
Rix,  materialized. 

344— Spirit-portrait  of  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  ;  Smiling  Anna ;  The 
negro  servant  Caroline ;  Joseph- 
ine Bonaparte  displays  her 
pearls  ;  Buchanan  and  Douglas. 

345 — Nolan  speaks  at  the  aper- 
ture ;  The  spirit-handkerchief; 
Materialization  of  flowers. 

346 — More  faces  at  the  cabinet 
aperture ;  Elwood  Fisher's  face. 

347 — Mr.  Buchanan  inspects  his 
own  autograph  letter,  and  an- 
nounces  its    character   audibly. 

348— A  family  cabinet  seance; 
Impression  of  Marshal  Ney's 
hand  in  flour. 

349 — Description  of  the  process  ; 
More  faces  ;  A  spirit-halo. 

350 — Conditions  of  good  mani- 
festations ;  Emotional  disturb- 
ance ;  Why  Elwood  Fisher 
could  not  materialize;  Too 
anxious. 

351 — What  the  spirits  require  of 
their  medium ;  Repulsive  and 
attractive  magnetisms. 

352 — Many  faces  ;  Messages  from 
George  D.  Prentice ;  The  land 
of  peace. 

353— Colonel  Piatt  introduced. 

354— A  journalistic  trio  ;  A  beau- 
tiful seance. 

355 — A  spirit-arm  dressed  in 
many  styles ;  The  phantom 
handkerchief;  A  strange  hand 
for  a  woman. 

356 — Materializations  of  many 
flowers  ;  A  huge  pond-lily ; 
Vase  filled  with  flowers  ;  Anna 
Hancock's  rosebuds ;  More 
faces;  Two  at  once  illuminated, 

357 — Failure  to  detect  fraud. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS, 


XXI 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

PACK. 

358 — Colonel  Donn  Piatt  makes 
his  report ;  An  awful  mistake  ; 
Why  should  I  accept  affronts? 

359 — Commenced  his  investiga- 
tion in  a  joke. 

360 — A  rat-hole  revelation  ;  His 
description  of  Mrs.  Hollis ;  Of 
the  cabinet. 

361— Sees  something;  A  hand 
writes  a  belligerent  message ; 
Fun  over  it;  A  spirit-face  dis- 
cerned ;  James  Buchanan  ap- 
pears. 

362— Stephen  A.  Douglas  comes 
to  the  aperture  ;  Colonel  Piatt 
shocked;  Stunned;  Startled 
out  of  his  humor ;  The  coffin- 
lid  raised ;  Seen  enough  to 
satisfy  him  that  the  manifesta- 
tions were  not  frauds ;  His 
materialism  first  knocked  in 
his  head ;  Now  knocked  out 
of  it. 

363 — The  colonel  preacheth  about 
Christ  and  Franklin  ;  A  week's 
investigation ;  Convinced  that 
he  cohimunicates  with  an  in- 
telligence outside  humanity ; 
At  the  writing-table ;  Asks 
forty-one  questions. 

364 — C  d  n  c  1  u  s  i  V  e  evidence; 
Amazed  ;  Writing  with  the  slate 
against  the  table  ;  Dark  circle  ; 
Mrs.  Piatt  speaks  long  mes- 
sages ;  Remarkable  interview 
between  El  wood  Fisher,  a  spirit, 
and  Mr.  Corry. 

365 — ^Jesse  Judkins  ;  Jim  Nolan 
speaks ;  Colonel  Piatt  neither 
ashamed  nor  afraid  to  bear 
testimony;  Has  no  suspicion 
of  fraud. 


366 — Mr.    Halstead    unavailable  ; 

Piatt  goes  for  the  "  brute." 
■T^(i'] — And  makes  him  roar. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

368 — Extraordinary  materiah'za- 
tion  of  Nolan  ;  Medium  not  ap- 
prised of  his  purpose. 

369 — Her  complete  passiveness 
necessary;  Jimmy  gives  orders, 
and  appears  at  the  aperture. 

370 — "  Doctor,  do  you  see  me  ?" 
An  interesting  conversation  in 
the  light. 

371 — Influence  of  old  earth  con- 
ditions on    materialized   spirits. 

372 — Nolan's  physical  manifesta- 
tion ;  A  poetical  tribute  to  Nolan. 

373 — Ney  announces  twelve 
French  spirits  present. 

374 — Napoleon  appears  ;  Cardinal 
Richelieu  at  the  aperture  ;  Jo- 
sephine, Hortense,  Marie  An- 
toinette ;  Charlotte  Corday ; 
Madame  Lafayette,  and  others, 
follow. 

375 — Description  of  these  spirit 
material  izations. 

376 — Are  they  genuine?  Imperti- 
nence of  the  question. 

377 — Other  testimony  to  their 
genuineness  ;  The  witnesses  on 
the  stand. 

378 — More  testimony  of  the  same 
sort. 

379 — A  cloud  of  witnesses. 

380 — And  still  they  come. 

381 — More  faces  and  messages  ; 
Spirit  arms,  flowers,  and  hands. 

382 — Twenty-six  faces  at  a  single 
sitting;  Rev.  Thomas  Vickers 
investigating. 

383 — Conclusion  of  testimony. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

PAGE. 

384 — Phonographic  reporting  in 
the  dark. 

385— Benn  Pittraan's  verbal  report 
of  dark  seance. 

386 — El  wood  Fisher  identifies 
liimself  to  Friend  Corry ;  Mrs. 
Hoi  lis  describes  sj^irits  clair- 
voyantly. 

387 — A  remarkable  conversation 
with  Nolan. 

388 — He  describes  his  own  death  ; 
What  he  thought  of  when  dying. 

389 — Unconscious  of  the  transi- 
tion ;  Meets  old  comrades ;  Sees 
his  own  body  buried. 

390 — Reception  in  the  spirit-land  ; 
Its  reality;  Its  flowers,  trees, 
birds,  houses,  books,  furni- 
ture, etc. 

391 — The  spirit-land  no  place  for 
loafing  ;  Spirit-bodies  and  spirit 
anatomy. 

392 — How  Jimmy  found  his  me- 
dium ;  How  he  learned  to  ma- 
terialize. 

393— Phi  h)sophy  of  materialization. 

394 — Spirit  cognition  of  Deity;  No 
special  manifestation  to  spirits. 

395 — Spirit-spheres  ;  Progress  in 
spirit-h'fe. 

396 — Nolan's  views    of  marriage. 

397-— Spirit-language  ;  No  secrets 
in  the  si)irit-life  ;  Impressional 
discernment  of  the  medium. 

398 — A  new  invention  promised  ; 
The  "  Thought  Indicator." 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

399 — Statement  of  Hon.  William 
M.  Corry  ;  First  seance;  Slate- 
writing. 


PACK. 

400 — Message  from  his  father ; 
Sound  advice. 

401 — Communications  from  Joseph 
Gest  and  Lafayette  Neville. 

402 — Negro  James  ;  Dissected  in 
Cony's  house ;  "  Are  you 
afraid  of  ghosts  V 

403 — Second  seance;  At  the 
cabinet ;  A  curious  message. 

404 — The  faces  seen  by  Mr. 
Corry ;  Greeting  from  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan. 

405— Message  to  Col.  Piatt ;  Cor- 
ry's  father  renews  his  advice. 

406 — Tiiird  seance  in  the  dark  cir- 
cle ;  Mrs.  Mollis,  Clairvoyant, 
describes  Dr.  Jesse  Judkins ; 
Messages  from  Piatt's  friends. 

407 — Nolan's  conversation  with 
Mr.  Corry. 

408 — Remarkable  interview  with 
Elwood  Fisher;  Ilis  difficulty  in 
speaking ;  Old  times  and  old 
friends  recalled. 

409 — Fourth  seance  Cdhm^t  mani- 
festations. 

410- — Fisher's  theory  of  the  seat  of 
the  soul  ;  Music  gives  out;  vo- 
cal melody;  Partial  materializa- 
tion of  Fisher's  face. 

411 — More  slate-writing. 

412 — Adjournment  to  the  cabinet; 
Fisher  makes  a  great  effort. 

413 — Farewell  message  from  Fish- 
er ;  Conclusion  of  Corry's  state- 
ment. 

414 — Some  observations  on  the 
statement. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

415 — Rev.  Thomas  Vickers's  in- 
vestigations ;  Unfavorable  con- 
ditions. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


XXIII 


PAGH. 

416 — Mr.  Vickers's  statement. 

417— Slate-writings  unsatisfactory; 
Messages  in  French  and  Gennan. 

418 — The  writing  itself  very  start- 
ling; Satisfied  it  is  done  without 
fraud  ;  No  theory  to  explain  it. 

419 — The  dark  circle;  Dr.  Lillien- 
thal  converses  with  a  spirit  in 
German  ;  A  singular  caution. 

420 — Cabinet  materializations  and 
writings  ;  A  German  fable  ; 
Many  faces  and  liands. 

421— Further  investigations. 

422 — Mr. Vickers's  conclusion  ;  Ef- 
forts to  get  the  statements  jDub- 
lished. 

423 — Mr.  Halstead's  reason  for  de- 
clining ;  Danger  of  making  men 
too  conspicuous  ;  A  menace,  and 
a  reply. 

424 — A  few  mild  observations  on 
a  newsmonger. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

425 — Re|)resentative  men;  Neither 
fanatics  nor  fools. 

426 — Skeptics  with  brains,  skeptics 
without  brains  ;  Darwin's  theory 
with  a  new  application;  Dressed 
imbeciles  stifle  spirits;  Aura 
surrounding  the  spirit. 

427 — A  manikin  of  fashion,  and 
Sam  Snigglefritz's  conversion  to. 
spiritualism. 

428 — A  trip  South  ;  Mental  con- 
ditions to  be  changed  ;  Manifes- 
tations in  Memphis. 

429 — Excitemen  t. 

430— A  spiritual  picnic;  Manifes- 
tation on  the  river ;  In  New 
Orleans. 

431 — On  the  cars;  Spirits  propose 
to  take  their  medium  to  Europe  ; 
A    final     engagement    to    visit 


PAGE. 

Cincinnati;  An  entire  room  for 
a  cabinet. 

432 — Doubts  as  to  the  suitable- 
ness; experiment  on  Sunday 
morning, 

433 — ^"^y  k^'^pi'ig  on  the  reincar- 
nation ;  ^Yhat  's  the  odds  1  Go 
ahead. 

434 — Nnpoleon,  the  last  edition  of 
Julius  Caesar ;  A  dark  circle ; 
Mother  and  son  conversing ; 
x\  startling  prediction  by  Jim 
Nolan. 

435 — "Old  Ski;"  A  number  of 
spirits  speak;  Mrs.  Mollis  on 
Broadway. 

436 — A  dark  circle  in  a  private 
house  ;  Tiie  loved  and  lost 
reunited  ;  Fanny  Wright  sends 
messages  to  her  old  personal 
friends. 

437 — Addresses  Mrs.  Nancy  Mar- 
tin ;  A  remarkable  and  character- 
istic communication  ;  Redeems 
a  i^romise  made  twenty  years 
before. 

438 — Recollections  of  Fanny 
Wright;  Mrs.  Martin's  anecdote; 

439 — A  circle  get  what  they  need, 
but  not  what  they  want. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

440 — A  private  seance;  Mother 
and  child  converse. 

441 — Several  interviews  ;  Faces 
materialized  ;  A  spirit-arm  vari- 
ously clad. 

442 — A  doll -baby  show;  A  young 
womnn  fades  at  the  aperture, 
and  is  materialized  in  the  light  ; 
Interesting  ceremonv  ;  The  ex- 
periment repeated  six  times. 

443 — The  face  familiar;  Seen  in  a 
vision  ;  The  vision  described. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


XXIV 


CONTENTS, 


PAGE. 

444 — Continued  solitude  ;  Shadow 
on  the  lawn  ;  a  transformation. 

445 — Thrilled  with  delight ;  a  curi- 
ous explanation  ;  You  will  see  me 
again  ;  Who  knows  ? 

446— Ney  approves  the  room  ;  A 
private  circle  ;  a  number  of  spir- 
its announced.     ^, 

447 — A  thrilling  incident ;  John  W. 
Cowen,  the  murderer,  speaks. 

448 — -Declares  his  wife's  innocence; 
Can  now  rise  to  higher  spheres. 

449 — A  large  number  of  spirits 
announced  ;  A  cabinet  seance. 

450 — Three  spirits  at  once  ;  Elec- 
tric light. 

451 — Six  spirits  in  tableau;  Joseph- 
ine speaks  ;  Mine  is  flesh  and  blood. 

452 — A  number  of  citizens  meet  a 
multitude  of  spirits  ;  Hughes's 
murderers. 

453 — Let  them  out  of  the  "bad 
place  ;"  Mrs.  Hollis's  mission  to 
Europe ;  Excelsis  Deo. 

454 — Thunder-storm  breaks  up  a 
circle;  A  rose-bush;  A  nude  baby. 

455 — A  spirit  speaks  to  Mrs.  Mar- 
tin ;  A  spirit  removes  a  veil  to 
show  her  face  ;  Toying  with  the 
baby. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

456 — Jim    Nolan    a    Free-mason  ; 

Mystical ;  Spirit-uncle  to  Alfred 

Gaither. 
457 — Mr.    Rhodes    and    his    son ; 

Mr.   Wier  and  Frank  Stevens ; 

Sim  Reno,  the  express-robber ; 

Forty  spirits  announced, 
458 — A  dark  circle  ;  Spirits  talking. 
459 — K  circle,  and  sultry  evening  ; 

Thoughts  upon  the  formation  of 

circles ;    Josephine's    thirteenth 

letter ;    Discouraged    with   bad 


circles  ;  How  some  people  enter 
spirit-life. 

460 — People  with  brute  instincts  ; 
Opinions  of  the  spirits. 

461— Josephine's  fourteenth  letter; 
A  sharp  criticism;  Mental  and 
spiritual  conditions ;  How  re- 
lated ;  Spirits  feel  degraded. 

462 — Spirits  work  on  compulsion  ; 
Less  worship  and  more  work; 
A  number .  of  private  circles  ; 
Knowledge  is  power. 

463 — Private  circles  ;  Josephine 
complains. 

464 — Bankers  in  a  circle ;  Tricks 
among  them ;    Masons. 

465 — An  astonishment ;  I  'm  so 
happy  ;  A  blind  sister. 

466 — Lewis  dazed  ;  Ventriloquism 
do  n't  divulge  secrets ;  Recog- 
nition. 

467 — Meets  the  old  man,  certain ; 
Josephine's  fifteenth  letter;  Likes 
the  bankers  ;  Church  people  not 
as  good  as  they. 

468 — Good  seed  in  good  ground; 
Private  circles. 

469 — Jim  Nolan  speaks  an  hour  ; 
Old  peojDle  rarely  return  to  earth; 
Changed  magnetism  the  cause ; 
Curious  theory. 

470 — Old  Ski  deprecates  the  mur- 
der of  General  Canby ;  Significa- 
tion of  the  word  Modoc;  Nackie 
Haynes ;  Private  messages. 

471 — Josephine's  sixteenth  letter; 
Sensitiveness  of  spirits ;  How 
noise  affects  them ;  A  good  circle. 

CHAPTER  XXVIL 

472^Spirit-hands  at  the  writing- 
table  ;  Take  a  bank-bill  under 
the  table. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


473 — K  porie-monnaie  ;  And  hand- 
kerchief perfumes  obnoxious. 

474— A  dark  circle ;  Josephine 
sings  in  French  ;  Explains  her 
relation  to  Napoleon;  Napo- 
leon's mission  ;  Josephine  a 
spirit-medium ;  The  cause  of 
Napoleon's  downfall. 

475— His  work  not  finished  ;  Val- 
ance to  the  table  ;  The  first  mes- 
sage in  the  light. 

476 — The  spirits  brush  my  hair; 
A  hand  without  an  arm. 

477 — Two  hands  in  the  light  han- 
dle drum-sticks ;  Uses  of  a  dog's 
tail  and  a  sow's  ear;  Anxiety 
about  the  two  hands. 

478 — -Five  ounces  of  red  apple  dis- 
appear ;  Digested  by  chemistry. 

479 — Thirty  spirits  interviewed  ;  A 
peculiar  name  announced;  Jo- 
sephine's seventeenth  letter. 

480— Pleased  with  the  circle;  Sel- 
fishness keeps  off  spirits ;  Spirits 
eat  pound-cake  ;  Are  you  thirsty? 

481 — Spirits  drink  a  glass  of  wine  ; 
Two  hands  leave  their  impres- 
sions in  flour  ;  Different  in  size  ; 
Mrs.  HoUis's  hand  did  not  fit 
either. 

482— Captain  Air  and  Judge  Berry 
try  the  spirits ;  Thread  needles 
under  the  table  ;  Knot  the  thread 
in  the  light. 

483 — One  hand  could  not  do  it ; 
Writing  in  the  chair. 

484 — ^Josephine's  eighteenth  letter; 
Disintegration ;  Death  miiver- 
sal ;  Organization. 

485 — Old  mother- tree  ;  Spirits  can 
destroy  life  ;  The  watch-test. 

486 — Tlie  time  given  ;  Josephine's 
nineteenth  letter ;  Jim  refuses 
to  meddle  with  family  affairs. 


PAGE. 

487 — Animal  life ;  Spirits  obliged 
to  work;  Come  back  to  reclaim 
wasted  time ;  Josephine  in 
France. 

488 — ^Jini  Nolan  writes  on  paper 
held  in  my  hand;  Drums  the 
reveille  and  three  cheers;  Drum- 
sticks. 

489 — Shows  them  ;  Spirit  takes  a 
ring  off  my  finger ;  Piits  it  on 
his  own  ;  Replaces  it  on  mine. 

490 — Josephine's  twentieth  letter; 
Remarks  on  fashion  ;  Church  at- 
tendance ;  Death  the  liberator; 
Prepare  for  the  spirit-life. 

CHAPTER  XXVHI. 

491 — Mr.  Plimpton  as  a  witness  of 

manifestations  at  the  table. 

492 — The  needle- test  and  watch- 
test  repeated ;  A  spirit  sings 
alone  ;  Aunt  Betsy. 

493 — ^^^  Sid  ;  Tells  a  story  about 
till-money;  Knows  what  he  is 
talking  about, 

494 — What  good  in  spiritualism; 
Josephine's  twenty-first  letter; 
Spirits  weeping  for  joy  ;  A  moth- 
er's love  is  deathless. 

495 — Josephine  devout ;  Nolan 
calls  for  water. 

496 — Give  it  to  him;  Aromatises 
it ;  The  room  filled  with  aro- 
matic odors  ;  No  sulphur  smell ; 
Precarious  condition  of  coal 
merchants  ;  Spiced  milk. 

497 — A  queer  taste  ;  A  between- 
ity  fluid. 

498 — A  black  circle ;  Nolan  will 
not  speak  to  men  under  the  in- 
fluence of  whisky. 

499 — Josephine's  twenty-second 
letter ;     Whisky    and     tobacco 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS. 


make   unpleasant    magnetisms ; 
Stifle  inspiration. 

500 — Wine  experiment ;  Mrs.  IIol- 
lis  sick  ;  Aspliyxia  ;  Hard  work 
\.o  perform  a  7niracle\  No  go. 

501 — Another  trial  ;  The  beverage 
all  right ;  Taste  it ;  Celestial 
chemistry, 

502 — Book-test  ',  Spirits  read  in 
the  dark;  Speech  contemptible. 

503— Felicitating  self;  Josephine's 
twenty-third  letter  ;  Weeds  and 
brambles;  Apostrophe  to  Wis- 
dom. 

504~The  book-test  repeated;  Suc- 
cess ;  A  circle  of  outcasts, 

^05 — Twelve  spirits  talked  to 
them;  Josephine's  twentyfom-th 
letter;  Glad  to  bring  svuishine 
to  these  people. 

506 — Compliments  on  good  con- 
ditions ;  The  black  circle  dis- 
mally remembered;  the  con- 
trast. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

507— Book  tests  by  Mr.  Plimpton  ; 
A  private  seance. 

508— Walter  Smith  a  medium  ; 
Tests;  Josephine's  twenty-fifth 
letter ;  Good  circle ;  Spirit- 
lights. 

^09— Spirit  hand  and  flower  ;  Mrs. 
Ilollis,  for  the  first  time,  sees  a 
materialization;  An  odorous  cir- 
cle no  go. 

^10 — Josephine's  twenty-sixth  let- 
ter ;  Review  of  the  week  ;  Pa- 
gan and  Christian  acceptance  ; 
On  the  depravity  of  the  times. 

511 — Misery;  Superstition  will 
die  ;  An  alarmed  Teuton. 

^12 — Josephine's  twenty-seventh 
letter;  A  sprig  of  Elder  and  a 


PAGE. 

banker;  Holier  than  thou;  A 
case  of  ostracism. 

513— Mecliumship  ;  The  preacher 
and  gambler  contrasted. 

514 — Great  box-test ;  Spirit-lights. 

515 — Luminous  pests;  Spirit- 
lights  touch  my  hand ;  Brush 
my  hair  again;  Josephine's 
twenty-eighth  letter. 

516™ Compulsory  legislation  ;  A 
conflict  imminent ;  Spirits  count 
money. 

517 — Money  of  no  value  in  spirit- 
world  ;  Wisdom  at  par ;  A 
strange  sight. 

518 — A  spirit-hand  festooned  with 
pearls  ;  Lay  them  in  my  hand; 
How  they  felt  ;  Size  ;  Quantity. 

519 — Table  and  n^^sic-box  lifted; 
LUeresting  materializations. 

520 — A  p  pi  e-b I  o s s  o m s  ;  Mary 
Plimpton  writes,  and  presents 
blossoms;  Jim  Nolan's  good- 
bye. 

521 — Josephine^s  valedictory  let- 
ter; Conditions;  Good-bye. 

CHAPTER   XXX. 

522 — Mr.    Plimpton    supplements 

his  first  report. 
^23 — Reaffirms    the    impossibility 

of  fraud  in  the  manifestations. 
524 — Confutes   Faraday's  theory  ; 

Upsets    Carpenter ;     and    puts 

new  eyes  into  Zschokke's  head  ; 

The  medium's  private  character. 
525 — Something      very      affecting 

about  Dr.  Wolfe  ;  Two  objects  ; 

A  trap-door  not  one  of  them. 
526 — Diagram    of   room  ;     Table 

and  positions. 
527 — Thread     and     needle    test; 

Comments ;  The  watch-test. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


CONTENTS, 


528— Comments  ;   The  book-test. 
529 — How   it   was   given ;    Fraud 
and  collusion  out  of  the   ques- 
tion ;  Faraday's  theory  again  at 
fault. 
530— Spirits    correct    a   mistake  ; 
"yEsop's    Fables "   in    French  ; 
Does  unconscious  correct  con- 
scious cerebration  ? 
53i~A    spirit-hand    and   flower; 
'    Drum-sticks;      Printing     their 

hands  in  flour. 
532— The    box-test;    *' Yes,    Mr. 
Plimpton,    we    can    do    this ;" 
Could  swear  to  it  in  any  court. 
533— Something  personal  of  Jim 
Nolan  ;  Coup  de  grace  to  pseudo 
critics;    Spirit-lights;    Thought 
to  be  electrical ;   A  ring  on  the 
finger. 
534 — No  ring  ;  Spirit  touches  the 
back  of  Mr.   Plimpton's  hand ; 
Can  not  touch  the  nerve  center; 
Writes;  Rings  a  bell;  Brushes 
hair  ;    Difl'erent  hands  ;    Wipes 
my  hand  with  a  spirit-handker- 
chief; The  strings  of  pearls. 
535-™The   scissors-test ;    Levitate 

the  table ;  Apple-blossoms. 
536— Special  pleading  ;  Forced  to 
believe;  An  innumerable  cloud 
of  witnesses    testifying  to    the 


immortality  of  man;  The  cas© 
submitted;  Exeunt. 

CHAPTER  XXXL 

537 — Have  I  been  deluded  a  quar 
ter  of  a  century.?    Has  my  life 
been  a  lie  }  The  facts  witnessed 
by  others. 
538 — Frauds  or  facts  ;  Painstaking 
to   determine ;   Tear   away   the 
disguises;   Millions  demand  it. 
539— Spiritualism  a  power;   Dis- 
turbers   of   the    rotten    peace ; 
Aggressive;  Distinguished  mem- 
bers of  the  mystic  multitude. 
540 — The  fardels  of  Faraday ;  Ed- 
ucated   egotists ;    Conventional 
great  men  made  of  poor  stuff. 
541 — The  opportunity  of  science  ; 
Its  mission  ;  The  pulpit  and  the 
press  hostile ;   Who  dare  defy 
the  Omnipotent  to  arms  ? 
542 — The  objects  of  spiritualism  ; 
Makes    war    on    sectarianism ; 
Takes  away  the  terror  of  death  ; 
It  teaches  principles,  laws,  and 
ideas. 
543— Granite  base  for  the  construc- 
tion of  an  edifice  ;  The  Temple 
of  Truth;  All  nations  worship 
in  it. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


STARTLING  FACTS 


Modern  Spiritualism. 


CHAPTER  I. 


PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  WIZARDS,  WITCHES, 
AND  WITCHCRAFT. 

A  BELIEF  in  the  supernatural  thrives  best  in  an 
atmosphere  of  ignorance.  It  is  peculiar  to  the 
childish  instincts  of  our  nature,  and  never  attains 
sturdy  growth  and  development  when  the  lungs  of 
our  manhood  are  fully  expanded.  Indeed,  there  is  no 
power  in  such  a  belief;  for  all  falsities  tend  to  degrade 
and  enervate  the  soul. 

My  personal  recollections  of  witches  and  witch- 
craft must  therefore  be  associated  with  my  childhood, 
or  childish  instincts,  and  not  with  the  maturer  years 
of  life,  when  the  thoughtful  mind  is  sustained  by  its 
judgments  and  held  firmly  by  its  convictions. 

I  remember,  when  a  child,  of  having  my  curiosity 
excited  by  seeing  horse-shoes  nailed  over  the  doors  of 
several  houses  in  my  native  town,  and  the  perplexity 
of  my  mind  when   trying  to  discover  the  purpose  for 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


2  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

whtch  they  were  nailed  there.  Curiosity  in  a  child 
can  only  be  sustained  during  the  period  of  mental 
adolescence;  when  the  mind  begins  to  quicken  with 
its  new  powers,  it  demands  knowledge,  as  the  unfold- 
ing flower  demands  light  and  heat.  So  I  began  to 
ask  questions  of  old  people  in  regard  to  the  horse- 
shoes: what  they  were  put  up  for;  and  who  nailed 
them  there?  It  was  not  long  before  I  obtained  the 
desired  information  ;  for  almost  every  body  I  spoke 
to  in  regard  to  this  matter,  told  me  they  were  put 
there  to  **  keep  out  the  witches !" 

''  To  keep  out  the  witches  T  I  said ;  "  what  are 
witches.^  what  do  they  want  to  keep  them  out  for.? 
what  do  the  witches  want  to  get  in  for.?  what  will 
they  do  if  they  get  in  }  can't  they  get  in  other  houses 
that  have  no  horse-shoes  over  the  doors.?  how  do 
the  horse-shoes  keep  them  out .?"— and  a  hundred 
other  questions  to  which  my  childish  fancy  gave  birth. 

Witches,  I  was  informed,  could  put  spells  on  peo- 
ple;  could  make  folks  sick  or  well,  as  they  felt  in- 
clined; that  they  could  assume  any  shape  they 
pleased  (sometimes  they  went  into  a  black  cat,  or  a 
black  dog)  ;  that  they  traveled  through  the  air,  riding 
a  broomstick  ;  and  if  any  body  offended  them,  such 
offender  they  would  certainly  destroy.* 

^  Could  a  more  graceless  exliibition  of  ignorance  and  prejudice  be 
given  tlmn  is  found  in  tlie  oft-quoted  discourse  of  Bishop  Jewel,  de- 
livered in  the  presence  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  over  three  hundred  years 
ago  (1558):  "It  may  please  your  grace  to  understand  that  witches 
and  sorcerers,  witliin  these  four  last  years,  are  marvelously  increased 
within  your  grace's  realm.  Your  grace's  subjects  pine  away,  even  unto 
the  death  ;  their  colour  fadeth  ;  their  flesh  rotteth  ;  their  speech-is  be- 
numbed ;  their  senses  are  bereft.  I  pray  God  they  may  never  prac- 
tice further  than  upon  the  subject." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  3 

''  But  who  are  the  witches  T  I  would  ask,  resolving 
not  to  expose  myself  to  their  resentments,  if  I  could 
possibly  avoid  doing  so. 

*' Witches!"  said  old  Sam  Wade  to  me,  as  we  sat 
too-ether  on  a  log  behind  Sam  Heise's  barn,  while  he 
was  tying  the  brail  of  a  flail  with  an  eel-skin  ;  "why, 
old  Bets  Parks  is  a  witch!  Don't  you  know  old  Bets 
Parks  ?" 

*'Why,  no!"  I  said;  "where  does  she  live,  Mr. 
Wade?'' 

"  Live  ?  why,  she  lives  in  that  old  slab-cabin,  over 
on  the  commons,  near  Malson's."* 

"  Is  that  Jake  Pugh's  mother  ?"   I  said. 

"Yes,  that's  her;  she's  the  witch.  Didn*t  you 
never  see  that  hole  in  her  cheek  ?" 

"Yes!"  I  said,  with  trepidation  ;  for  I  already  be- 
gan to  fear  she  might  be  about,  listening  to  our  con- 
versation. 

"Well,  that's  where  she  was  shot  with  a  silver  bul- 
let!  You  see,  you  can't  kill  witches  with  leaden  bul- 
lets. You  put  a  gun  right  up  against  their  head,  and 
shoot  it  off,  and  you  can't  faze  'em.  They'll  only 
laugh   at   you  through    the   smoke.      They  can't   be 

*  Witches  always  live  in  cabins,  or  tumble-down,  out-of-the-way 
places.  An  a1)ode  of  a  Pythoness  is  thus  admirably  described  by  Spen- 
ser, in  the  **  Faerie  Queen  :" 

"There,  in  a  gloomy  hollow  glen,  she  found 
A  little  cottage  built  of  sticks  and  reeds, 
In  Iiomely  wise,  and  wald  with  sods  around  ; 
In  which  a  witch  did  dwell,  in  loathly  weedes 
And  wilful  want,  all  careless  of  her  needes. 
So  chooseing  solitaire  to  abide 
Far  from  all  neighbours,  that  her  develish  deeds 
And  hellish  arts  from  people  she  might  hide, 
And  hurt  far  off  unknowne  whom  ever  she  envide.'* 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


4  STARTLING  FACTS  IiV 

killed  only  with  silver  bullets  ;  and  you  must  git  the 
silver  to  make  the  bullets  with  from  the  witch  her- 
self; then  you  kin  shoot  'em." 

*'Who  shot  old  Mrs.  Parks?"  I  inquired. 

"Why,  Uncle  Joe  Hinkle  done  ife;  but  he  didn't 
kill  her- — only  shot  her  through  the  face.  That  hole 
in  her  cheek  is  where  the  silver  bullet  went  in  ;  and 
it  never  came  out !" 

"It  never  came  out !    Why,  what  became  of  it  ?" 

"  O,  she  swallowed  it.  You  see,  old  Bets  be- 
witched one  of  Uncle  Joe's  horses,  and  it  fell  down  on 
the  road  and  died.  You  see,  the  day  afore  the  horse 
died,  old  Bets  went  out  to  Uncle  Joe's  to  buy  a 
chicken  ;  but  she  only  wanted  to  witch  something. 
Uncle  Joe  was  afeerd  ov  her ;  so  he  sold  her  an  old 
black  hen  for  a  levy  and  a  fip.  So,  you  see,  when  the 
horse  died,  then  he  knowed  at  once  that  old  Bets  had 
witched  that  horse;  and  what  did  Uncle  Joe  do,  but 
pounded  the  levy  and  fip  into  a  bullet,  and  loaded  his 
big  duck-gun  with  the  bullet  ?  He  went  down  to  the 
barn  and  chalked  a  picture  of  old  Bets  on  the  barn- 
door. Then  he  said,  *  Old  Bets  Parks,  I  'm  going  to 
shoot  you,  you  old  witch  !'  He  then  fired,  and  struck 
her  on  the  cheek.  The  next  morning,  old  Bets  had 
a  big  hole  in  her  cheek;  and  it  is  there  to  this  day. 
That 's  how  she  got  the  hole  in  her  cheek."  * 

This  marvelous  story  had  a  wonderful  effect,  and 
made  a  lasting  impression  on  'my  mind.  However 
skeptical  I  may  have  grown  by  subsequent  mental 
development,  I  never  doubted  the  sincerity  of  old 
Sam's  belief  in  what  he  said,  though  the  statements 

*  The  **hole"  in  the  old  negress's  cheek  was  the  deep  scar  of  an 
old  abscess. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  5 

were  as  logically  loose  in  the  joints  as  a  supple-jack. 
Still,  for  a  long  time,  my  faith  in  the  existence  of 
witches  was  not  entirely  destroyed.  Early  impres- 
sions are  hard  to  outgrow  ;  they  seem  to  stick  to  the 
very  bone,  and  penetrate  the  marrow  of  our  mind. 
Thus,  when  I  first  read  Cotton  Mather's  **  History  of 
the  New  England  Witchcraft,"  my  sympathies  were 
enlisted  for  the  victims  who  had  fallen  under  the  ban 
of  the  *' black  art,"  not  for  the  "witches."  In  full 
sympathy  with  Sir  Matthew  Hale,  I  thought  the  man 
who  did  not  believe  in  witchcraft  *' an  obdurate  Sad- 
diicee,  and  should  be  made  happy  in  his  disbelief  by  a 
little  roasting."  Though  not  much  of  a  Biblical  stu- 
dent, still  the  story  of  the  woman  who  had  a  familiar 
spirit,  and  who  was  employed  by  Saul  to  consult  the 
deceased  Samuel  concerning  the  issue  of  his  contest 
with  the  Philistines,  was  sufficient  authority  to  rest 
my  belief  upon,  at  that  early  day. 

What  wonder,  then,  if  in  after  life,  when  the  sub- 
ject of  witches  or  witchcraft  came  under  my  notice, 
I  pricked  up  my  ears  to  hear  every  thing  that  was 
said.  And  this  brings  me  to  my  first  experience  with 
a  veritable  witch,  the  particulars  of  which  I  will  state 
as  briefly  as  possible,  as  they  came  under  my  personal 
observation  : 

In  1844,  I  was  a  student  of  medicine  in  Ebens- 
burg,  Cambria  County,  Pennsylvania.  This  town  is 
located  on  the  summit  of  one  of  the  swelling  knolls 
so  common  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Alleghanies, 
about  eight  miles  north-west  of  Cresson,  the  famed 
mountain  retreat  for  Summer  excursionists,  and  hypo- 
chondriacal moribunds. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


6  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

One  morning,  before  the  sleepy-heads  of  the  town 
had  opened  then'  eyes,  a  well-known  sturdy  old  Welsh- 
man by  the  name  of  Lloyd,  who  lived  some  three  or 
four  miles  west  of  the  village,  made  the  board-walks 
rattle  with  his  heavy  brogans,  as  he  wended  his  way 
along  the  principal  street  in  quest  of  a  magistrate. 
Being  an  early  riser,  I  met  the  brave  old  farmer,  and 
gave  him  a  cheery  *' good-morning,"  before  any  other 
pedestrian  had  yet  appeared  in  sight.  He  inquired 
for  'Squire  Roberts's  house,  which  I  pointed  out  to 
him. 

''  But  what 's  the  matter,  Mr.  Lloyd,  that  you  should 
be  looking  for  'Squire  Roberts  so  early  in  the  morn- 
ing T  I  asked. 

Hereupon  he  wiped  the  perspiration  from  his  fore- 
head, and  seemed  a  little  confused  as  to  how  he  should 
reply. 

I  said,  ''  The  'squire  won  't  be  up  for  an  hour  yet ; 
so  you'll  have  to  wait  awhile." 

He  then  sat  down  on  a  store-box,  and,  -  looking 
me  steadily  in  the  face,  he  said  : 

*'  Do  you  believe  in  witches  V 

*' Certainly,"  I  said,  *' though  I  have  never  seen 
but  one." 

His  eye  lightened,  as  I  told  him  about  the  old 
negress,  Betsy  Parks ;  but  he  derived  very  little 
comfort  from  my  statement  that  they  possessed  an 
ubiquitous  character,  and  could  be  killed  only  by 
being  shot  with  a  silver  bullet  in  the  manner  already 
described. 

He  did  n't  want  to  kill  Tom  Evans,  he  said  ;  but 
he  wanted  the  'squire  to  put  him  in  jail ! 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  7 

"What  has  Tom  Evans  done,  that  you  want  to  put 
him  in  jail?"  I  asked. 

"  He  has  bewitched  my  child,  and  I  am  afraid 
he  will  kill  her,"  said  the  old  man,  with  a  sigh  of 
despair. 

''  In  what  way,  Mr.  Lloyd,  has  Tom  Evans  be- 
witched your  child  ?"  I  asked,  partly  through  curi- 
osity, I  admit,  and  partly  with  the  wish  of  disabusing 
his  mind  of  the  absurd  fear  under  which  he  labored. 

"  O,  in  many  ways,"  he  said.  "  She  talks  and 
sings  all  night ;  and  when  she  lays  down  to  sleep,  he 
drags  the  clothes  off  her  bed,  and  tears  her  dress, 
and  ties  them  in  knots.  He  throws  the  dishes  at  her 
at  the  table,  and  breaks  them  on  the  floor." 

This,  and  much  more,  did  the  old  man  state,  with- 
out manifesting  any  symptom  of  insanity  in  his  look, 
manner,  or  speech.  He  was  a  hard-working,  plain, 
sensible,  but  illiterate  man.  He  had  gone  into  the 
woods  with  a  stout  arm,  a  courageous  heart,  and  a 
heavy  ax.  He  had  opened  up  a  highway  for  the  sun 
to  shine  upon  the' earth  and  fructify  its  bosom.  He  had 
built  his  home  of  logs,  and  was  now  rearing  a  family 
of  children,  to  be  his  comfort  in  age.  He  had  neither 
ability  nor  time  to  joke,  but  was  in  dead  earnest  when 
he  preferred  the  charge  of  witchcraft  against  his 
neighbor,  Tom  Evans. 

Tom  Evans  was  also  a  farmer,  with  habits  more 
like  Rip  Van  Winkle  s  than  Lloyd's.  Unlike  Rip, 
however,  he  was  quite  a  student,  and  was  the  owner 
of  an  old  illustrated  volume  on  Astrology,  wherein  an 
incantation  scene  was  represented,  showing  the  in- 
can  tee  and  incanted  to  be  in  the  possession  of  horns 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

tails,  and  cloven  hoofs.  There  was  a  striking  likeness 
in  their  general  appearance.  On  one  occasion,  when 
Lloyd  was  making  a  friendly  call  upon  his  neighbor, 
he  found  him  pondering  over  this  book,  when  Evans, 
in  his  waggery,  exclaimed:  *' This  book  teaches  a 
man  how  to  raise  the  devil.  It  is  the  science  of  the 
*black  art'  I  can  turn  any  man  into  a  horse,  if  I 
choose,  and  ride  him  all  night  through  swamps  and 
mill-dams,  like  a  wild  beast."  That  was  enough  for 
Lloyd.  The  direful  picture  was  but  too  vividly  im- 
printed on  the  tablets  of  his  lack-luster  imagination. 
Henceforth,  he  feared  Evans,  and  avoided  him.  This 
presentation  of  the  two  **  wad  "  neighbors  must  suf- 
fice. The  knowledge  here  imparted  will  assist  the 
intelligent  reader  to  form  more  rational  conclusions 
than  he  otherwise  could  do. 

'Squire  Roberts  heard  the  story  of  Lloyd,  and  was 
puzzled.  There  was  no  statute  under  which  he  was 
authorized  to  arrest  a  wizard,  that  had  not  been  re- 
pealed. He  could  not  even  claim  authority  from 
English  law  ;  for  the  act  of  Henry.  VHI,  adjudging 
''all  witchcraft  and  sorcery  to  be  felony,  without  the 
benefit  of  clergy,"  had  long  since  been  removed  from 
the  statute-books  of  the  Kingdom.  But,  law  or  no 
law,  Lloyd  had  made  up  his  mind  that  Evans  was  a 
wizard,  and  had,  as  he  alleged  —  unfortunately  for 
himself  and  family — ^only  too  much  proof  that  he  was 
practising  his  detestable  "black  art"  on  one  of  his 
children;  and  therefore  demanded  a  warrant  for  his 
arrest. 

Ebensburg  is  not  a  large  town,  and  it  did  not  re- 
quire a  long  time  for  the  story  of  Lloyd  to  be  known 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  9 

to  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  place.  It  was 
curious  to  see  how  soon  the  people  were  divided  into 
partisans  on  this  subject  of  witchcraft ;  and  there  was 
no  lack  of  zeal  manifested  on  either  side  of  the  ques- 
tion. To  satisfy  Lloyd,  and  relieve  'Squire  Roberts 
from  an  unpleasant  dilemma,  a  party  of  ten  men  vol- 
unteered to  go  home  with  Lloyd,  promising,  if  they 
found  the  evidence  of  witchcraft,  as  represented,  and 
Tom  Evans's  complicity  with  the  same  clearly  estab- 
lished, to  arrest  him,  and  put  him  in  jail. 

This  proposition  found  favor  at  once  ;  so  Sheriff 
Murray,  George  Zahm,  Charles  Litzinger,  Alexander 
Cummings,  John  Blair,  George  Harncame,  James 
M'Guire,  Andrew  Lewis,  Edward  Mills,  and.  myself, 
were  the  self-constituted  posse  comitatiis  who  volun- 
teered in  the  service.  Lloyd  went  home  at  once,  and 
we  followed  him  a  few  hours  later  in  the  day. 

When  we  arrived  at  his  house,  we  found  him  in  a 
condition  of  mind  almost  helpless  with  fear.  He  met 
us  at  the  door,  and,  judging  from  his  manner,  he 
seemed  to  deprecate  the  notoriety  he  had  given  him- 
self and  family.  He,  nevertheless,  maintained  stoutly 
that  the  statements  he  had  made  were  true,  and  ex- 
pressed his  approbation  at  our  coming,  as  we  could 
now  "see  for  ourselves."  That  was  the  sentiment  of 
all  present — to  see  for  ourselves. 

The  house  was  built  of  logs,  unplastered — two 
rooms  on  the  first  floor,  and  an  attic  floor,  reached  by 
a  ladder.  In  this  loft  the  older  children  slept.  One 
of  the  rooms  on  the  first  floor  was  used  for  general 
family  purposes,  embracing  kitchen,  dining,  and  draw- 
ing-room.    It  was  furnished  with  a  large,  stiff  table, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


TO  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

two  or  three  chairs,  two  benches,  a  shelf  for  dishes, 
and  a  corner  next  the  outside  jamb  of  the  chimney  was 
filled  with  barrels  and  trumpery.  The  other  room 
contained  a  23lain  chest  of  drawers,  a  table,  two  bed- 
steads— one  a  trundle-bed— and  a  number  of  Sunday 
suits  of  clothing  hanging  on  pegs  fastened  in  the  logs 
of  the  wall.  A  saddle  and  bridle  also  decorated  one 
of  the  pegs. 

The  inventory  was  soon  taken  ;  and  as  we  entered 
the  kitchen-^parlor,  ''ten  men  strong,"  the  juveniles 
opened  their  eyes,  with  big  wonder  in  their  faces.  A 
little  social  chat  soon  put  all  hands  at  ease,  when  we 
were  prepared  to  witness  and  bear  impartial  testimony 
to  whatever  might  be  presented.  Of  course  our 
interest  centered  on  the  bewitched  child,  who  was 
the  oldest  and  largest  of  the  group  of  six  tow-headed 
children  before  us.  She  was  a  stout,  healthy-looking 
girl,  twelve  years  old,  and  large  for  her  age.  Her 
hair,  a  shade  darker  than  her  younger  sisters'  and 
brothers',  hung  loosely  about  her  neck,  tangled  and 
uncared  for.  There  was  a  thoughtful  expression  in 
her  face  and  large  dark  eyes,  into  which  you  could 
look  as  into  a  well  of  clear  water,  and  fancy  any  thing. 
This  child  was  much  loved  by  her  parents  ;  her  dis- 
position, they  said,  was  sweet,  as  her  manners  were 
gentle.  She  stood  in  the  center  of  the  group,  timidly 
shrinking  from  our  prying  gaze,  quite  conscious  that 
she  was  the  object  of  supreme  interest  to  us  all. 

After  our  scrutiny  had  been  satisfied,  the  other 
children  were  called  awny  from  her,  and  she  was  left 
alone.  She  was  barefooted,  and  her  dress— a  home- 
spun   linsey-woolsey— hung   barely   to   her   stoutish 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 1 

ankles.  She  bad  outgrown  several  tucks,  that  had 
left  bright  flounce- marks  about  the  bottom  of  the 
skirt.  We  had  barely  time  to  make  these  observa- 
tions, when  the  first  symptom  of  witchcraft  made  its 
appearance.  About  six  feet  from  the  child,  on  a 
wooden  bench,  sat  a  patent-pail  filled  with  water. 
This  began  to  show  symptoms  of  unrest,  the  pail 
rocking  on  its  square  bottom.  After  making  two  or 
three  efforts  to  slide  along  the  bench,  it  careened  and 
fell  to  the  floor,  sending  its  tiny  deluge  to  our  feet. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  trouble.  Of  course 
we  examined  the  wooden  bench  and  pail,  but  discov- 
ered nothing  to  arouse  the  least  suspicion  of  trickery. 
How  the  '*  Old  Scratch"  the  pail  was  propelled  to  the 
performance  of  such  a  feat,  puzzled  our  wits.  We 
could  see  nothing  by  which  the  gravity  of  the  pail 
could  be  disturbed — no  inequality  of  the  legs  of  the 
bench,  nor  depression  in  the  floor;  and  yet  there  lay 
the  pail,  and  the  water  still  standing  in  pools  at  our 
feet!  The  feat  was  quite  interesting  to  several  half- 
scared  gentlemen  ;  and  their  surprise  was  not  lessened 
a  bit  as  one  of  the  chairs  in  the  room  made  first  a 
conge  and  then  a  start  from  where  it  stood,  toward  the 
child,  who  stood  about  six  feet  from  it.  When  half 
the  distance  had  been  passed,  the  chair  stopped,  as  if 
to  consider  the  propriety  of  its  strange  demeanor, 
toppled  a  few  times  on  its  back  legs,  then  fell  to  the 
floor.  I  bear  a  cheerful  testimony  to  the  fact  that  the 
chair  projected  this  movement  of  its  own  will  and 
accord,  without  any  aid,  advice,  or  encouragement 
from  any  visible  being  in  the  room  ;  and  should  be 
held  alone  responsible  for   any  fractures,  bruises,  or 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


12  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

contusions  of  legs,  back,  or  pediment,  it  may  have 
sustained. 

The  general  verdict  of  the  jurors  assembled  was, 
that  the  devil  was  in  the  chair ;  but  whether  in  the 
bottom,  back,  or  legs,  or  all  together,  we  could  not 
decide. 

This  diabolical  manifestation  put  us  all  more  or 
less  in  an  *' eerie  swither,"  and  we  began  to  look  at 
the  little  girl  with  something  like  fear  and  trembling. 
The  poor  child  then  leaned  up  against  the  chimney- 
jamb,  over  which  was  a  board  serving  as  a  mantel.  It 
was  a  shelf  upon  which  all  kinds  of  traps  had  been 
placed.  A  few  old  Welsh  books,  one  of  which  was 
a  Holy  Bible,  took  a  notion  to  **  raise  Cain,"  and 
made  a  perceptible  movement  toward  the  middle  of 
the  floor.  They  succeeded  admirably  in  their  inten- 
tions, if  I  have  correctly  anticipated  them — the  Bible 
a  trifle  ahead,  as  it  was  the  most  sprightly.  Then 
came  several  pairs  of  undarned  stockings,  without 
fleshly  legs  in  them  ;  and  they  were  quickly  followed 
by  an  old  witch-lamp,  as  a  light  to  their  feet.  The 
value  of  that  shelf  for  house-keeping  purposes  will 
never  be  accurately  estimated.  There  was  no  end, 
seemingly,  to  the  traps  that  flew  from  that  perch.  A 
japanned  candlestick  started,  as  if  suddenly  kicked  on 
end,  and  lighted  unpleasantly  near  our  feet.  Then 
some  tin  pans,  pie-platters,  started  on  a  skimming  expe- 
dition, and  there  was  no  telling  just  where  they  would 
hit ;  so  we  began  to  juke  and  duck,  and  dodge  and 
bow,  as  if  paying  a  most  respectful  obeisance  to  ''  Old 
Nick"  himself  The  occasion  was  full  of  interest,  and 
we  were  having  a  happy  time  of  it.     An  old  spinning- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 3 

wheel,  of  the  large,  trotting  kind — that  turns  as  you 
run  backward,  and  spins  a  hank  of  yarn  in  a  minute 
or  more — now  began  to  cut  up  didos  by  rotating  on  its 
ce;iter  with  a  velocity  that  was  *' stunning"  to  see; 
and  if  the  periphery  had  snapped  by  the  momentum, 
would  have  been  "stunning"  to  feel,  by  some  of  us 
who  stood  in  the  line  of  its  motion.  After  littering 
the  floor  with  the  fragments  of  a  few  dinner-dishes, 
the  performance  intermitted,  and  the  spectators  ad- 
journed to  the  outside  of  the  house  for  consultation. 

''  Don  't  it  beat  the  devil  ?"  said  one. 

"  It  is  the  devil,"  said  another;  '^and  he  can't  beat 
himself,  can  he  ?" 

''Exactly;  but  what  of  old  Tom  1  Do  you  think 
he  is  flying  around  here  on  a  broomstick,  a  prince  of 
the  power  of  the  air  1  If  it 's  Tom,  it  an  't  the  devil ! 
If  it's  the  devil,  it  an 't  Tom  !"  quoth  logic. 

"That's  a  fact,"  said  the  sheriff.  "I  guess  we 
had  better  not  disturb  old  Tom,  if  we  want  to  keep 
out  of  trouble." 

Just  here  our  short  conference  was  interrupted  by 
the  appearance  of  Lloyd  at  the  door,  beckoning  us  to 
come  in,  as  the  row  had  commenced  again.  So  in  we 
went,  and  found  this  time  that  the  manifestations  had 
been  transferred  from  the  kitchen  drawing-room  to 
the  room  containing  the  beds.  As  we  entered,  the 
first  thing  to  arrest  my  attention  was  the  old  saddle 
and  bridle  hanging  on  the  peg.  The  bridle  came 
rattling  to  the  floor  first,  with  a  clattering  noise  ;  then, 
soon,  after,  the  old  saddle-stirrups  began  to  shake  ;  the 
flaps  extended  themselves  like  the  spread  wings  of  an 
eagle,  and   the    saddle,  literally  raising  itself  like   a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


14  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

huge  bird,  swept,  with  its  leather  wings  outstretched, 
from  its  peg-top  aerie  to  the  middle  of  the  floor,  quite 
near  to  where  the  child  was  standing.  If  the  devil 
was  seated  on  that  saddle,  he  certainly  received  some 
bruises  in  the  fall. 

Next,  the  trundle-bed  began  to  exhibit  symptoms 
of  tribulation,  or  a  fancy  to  show  its  agility  to  our 
astonished  eyes.  It  first  made  a  dart  into  the  room, 
entirely  clear  of  the  mother-bed  overspreading  it,  in 
a  most  lively  manner;  but  as  it  had  nothing  to,  say, 
and  offered  no  explanation  for  its  obtrusion,  and  no 
apology  for  its  rudeness,  it  was  forcibly  pushed  under 
the  large  bed  again,  half-zvay.  At  this  jui^cture,  it 
seemed  to  take  on  the  sulks — or  perhaps  it  is  better  to 
say,  the  disposition  of  the  mule — and  would  go  no  far- 
ther on  compulsion.  This  put  two  of  our  party  on 
their  mettle,  who  pushed  hard  enough  at  that  bedstead 
to  have  shoved  it  through  adamantine  gates,  though 
guarded  by  cherubim  or  seraphim  ;  but  the  trundle- 
bed  seemed  immovable.  For  several  minutes  the 
issue  was  uncertain;  it  was  a  kind  of  *' pull-Dick, 
pull-devil"  contest,  when,  while  the  boys  were  a-blow- 
ing  and  getting  their  ''second  wind,"  without  aid  or 
abetment,  the  little  bed  went  right  under  the  big  one, 
itself,  as  naturally  as  a  kitten  goes  under  the  mother 
cat!  Having  performed  this  feat  voluntarily,  this 
power  demonstrated  its  satisfliction  by  pounding  on 
the  floor  under  the  bed,  as  if  with  a  muffled  mallet. 

This  ended  the  witch-show  on  the  day  of  my  visit, 
and  to  all  present  the  occasion  had  been  of  strange 
and  absorbing  interest.  The  evidence  of  a  power  ex- 
isting,   though    invisible    to    our    natural    eyes,   quite 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 5 

capable  of  doing  mischief,  was  apparent  to  all.  The 
question  was  now  seriously  discussed,  What  could  it 
be?  what  object  could  be  attained  by  annoying  this 
family  of  poor  people,  and  frightening  them  out  of 
their  wits?  Some  thought  the  child  was  a  witch! 
Others  sympathized  with  the  belief  of  Lloyd,  that  his 
child  was  simply  the  victim  of  Evans's  ''black  art!" 
But  then  it  was  urged  that  no  ill  was  done  the  child, 
save  only  a  little  fright ;  and  that  the  things  we  had 
witnessed  seemed  to  act  by  a  volition  of  their  own. 
Of  course,  no  intelligent  conclusion  could  be  at- 
tained. The  more  the  matter  was  discussed,  the 
more  opaque  the  whole  subject  seemed,  There  was 
enough  of  superstition,  however,  in  the  party  to 
ascribe  the  things  we  had  witnessed  flatly  to  witch- 
craft \  though  when  called  upon  for  the  rationale  of  this 
belief,  none  could  be  given.  The  ascription  was  a 
mere  substitution  of  terms  for  devil.  But  had  we  not 
better  give  this  power  no  name,  until  the  mantle  of 
ignorance  shall  be  lifted  from  our  minds,  and  we  can 
see  with  clearer  view  the  hidden  cause?  A  belief  in 
the  supernatural  ceased  to  be  a  part  of  my  mental 
code  when  I  ceased  to  be  a  child.  "All  things  are 
GOVERNED  BY  LAW !"  has  bccu  the  axiom  upon  which 
my  mind  has  rested,  with  a  sense  of  entire  security, 
for  many  years.  Outside  of  law,  there  can  be  neither 
order  nor  justice — in  heaven,  or  on  earth,  or  in  hell. 
Chaos  would  come  again,  when  law  ceased  to  govern 
matter. 

Our  senses  were  manifestly  at  fault  in  discovering 
the  law  which  overcame  the  inertia  of  these  bodies. 
But  let  us  with  humility  ask  ourselves,  How  much  or 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


i6 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


how  little  of  the  great  system  of  laws  governing  mat- 
ter do  we  comprehend?  Ignorance  is  always  arro- 
gant. I  speak  for  myself  only — I  did  not  pretend  to 
understand  the  law  as  it  manifested  itself  on  this 
occasion.  Still,  I  could  not  'surrender  my  faith  in  the 
eternal  principles  of  nature  to  any  slavish  fear  or 
degrading  superstition. 

Competent  men  hore  concurrent  testimony  to  the 
reality  of  the  manifestations  we  had  witnessed.  In 
them  the  law  of  inertia  seemed  to  be  superseded  ;  but 
there  was  power  behind  the  manifestation,  and  power 
can  not  exist  without  law;  and  law  is  but  the  reflection 
of  perfect  intelligence.  Is  there  still  hidden  in  the 
arcana  of  nature,  forces  yet  unrevealed  to  mortal 
sense  1  Is  there  a  power  we  do  not  understand  1  Is 
there  a  God  we  do  not  perfectly  comprehend? 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  \*J 


CHAPTER  II. 

MANIFESTATIONS    IN    COLUMBIA,   HARRISBURG,    AND 
THE  QUEEN'S  BUSH,  CANADA. 

THE '  incidents  recorded  in  the  preceding  pages 
had  almost  become  a  forgotten  circumstance, 
when  they  were  again  revived  in  my  memory  by 
some  singular  manifestations  of  an  occult  character, 
which  transpired  six  years  later  in  my  native  town, 
Columbia,  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania.  These 
I  will  briefly  relate  as  they  came  under  my  personal 
observation.  By  way  of  preface,  it  may  be  said  that, 
though  a  man  may  have  no  honor  in  his  own  country, 
it  rarely  happens  that  he  is  not  'Svell  known"  in  the 
neighborhood  of  his  birth-place.  Sometimes  this  is 
a  pleasant  thought,  and  sometimes  it  is  not.  Very 
much  depends  upon  the  ligKt  in  which  he  is  seen,  and 
the  character  of  those  who  estimate  his  worth. 

It  was  some  time  during  the  early  part  of  the 
Winter  of  1850  that  I  read  the  first  intelligent  ac- 
count of  the  "  Rochester  Knockings."  The  letter 
was  written  by  a  correspondent  of  the  Nezv  York 
Tribune,  who  was  upon  the  ground,  and  gave  what 
seemed  to  be  a  fair  statement  of  what  he  saw  and 
heard  in  Hydesville,  at  the  residence  of  the  Widow 
Fox  and  her  daughters.  I  had  read  other  statements 
of  these  wonderful  ''  knockings,"  but  they  seemed  to 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

be  disingenuous,  and  failed  to  impress  me  as  being 
truthful.  But  this  letter  in  the  Tribune  gave  a  most 
graphically  minute  and  circumstantial  account  of  the 
origin,  progress,  and  character  of  the  knockings,  which 
at  once  captivated  my  mind  and  enlisted  my  sympa- 
thies. I  clipped  the  article  from  the  paper,  and  car- 
ried it  with  me  several  weeks.  It  so  happened  that, 
one  evening,  in  company  with  several  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen, at  my  Aunt  Odell's,  the  conversation  turned 
upon  the  Rochester  knockings,  when  I  remembered 
the  printed  letter  of  the  Tribune,  which  I  then  had 
in  my  pocket.  I  produced  it,  and  read  it  aloud  ;  and 
as  I  did  so,  I,  somehow  or  other,  was  thinking  of  the 
witchcraft  scenes  narrated  in  the  first  chapter  more 
than  those  I  was  reading  about.  There  seemed  to  be 
a  family  resemblance  between  some  of  the  witchcraft 
scenes  and  some  parts  of  the  Hydesville  manifesta- 
tions, though  I  said  nothing  about  my  discovery  to 
any  person  at  the  time. 

After  I  had  concluded  my  reading,  one  of  the 
young  ladies  present,  an  accomplished  daughter  of 
Governor  Wolfe,  who  had  but  recently  returned  home 
from  a  visit  she  had  been  making  to  her  friends 
in  Little  York,  gave  a  very  interesting  account  of  a 
table-tipping  seance  she  had  witnessed  while  absent. 
The  table,  she  said,  really  moved  over  the  floor,  without 
any  person  touching  it.  This  statement  at  once 
brought  my  wntchcraft  experience  so  vividly  to  mind, 
that  I  ascribed  both  manifestations  to  a  common 
cause,  whatever  that  might  be.  So,  when  the  propo- 
sition was  made  to  form  a  circle,  then  and  there,  around 
a  table,  to  see  if  we  could  n't  have  some  fun  with  it, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 9 

I  at  once  gave  my  consent  to  join  hands,  and  assisted 
to  bring  a  heavy,  old-time,  solid  mahogany  table  to 
the  center  of  the  room.  It  was  not  on  casters,  and 
the  heft  was  not  less  than  fifty  pounds.  Around  this 
table  seven  or  eight  chairs  were  placed,  and  occupied 
by  as  many  persons.  We  first  joined  hands,  and, 
after  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  laid  them  disconnected 
on  the  table,  the  palms  downward.  Very  soon  an 
unpleasant  feeling  in  the  arms  was  complained  of  by 
several  ;  but  all  felt  like  sticking  to  it  until  the  table 
would  move.  In  this  way,  we  had  sat  almost  an  hour, 
chatting  and  talking  on  various  subjects,  having  al- 
most forgotten  the  object  of  our  being  there,  when, 
of  a  sudden,  the  table  gave  a  quick  movement  to  the 
left,  describing  about  a  quarter  of  a  circle;  and  so 
rapid  and  unexpected  was  the  evolution,  that  it  slid 
from  under  our  hands. 

It  is  needless  to  say  how  much  excitement  this 
movement  created,  and  how  much  interest  it  awak- 
ened. After  a  few  minutes,  we  all  sat  at  the  table 
again  ;  and  it  soon  became  apparent,  if  we  desired  to 
keep  our  hands  on  the  "  mahogany,"  we  would  be 
compelled  to  ''locomote"  quite  lively  to  keep  pace 
with  its  voluntary  movement.  It  began  again  by  re- 
jDcating  the  '' spasmodic  jerks"  which  had  so  surprised 
us  at  first ;  but  at  each  succeeding  paroxysm  the 
movement  seemed  to  increase  in  power,  until  a  full 
circle  had  been  described;  then,  as  if  gaining  mo- 
mentum by  the  motion,  and  gathering  new  force,  it 
would  rotate  two  or  three  times  in  the  most  rapid 
manner,  causing  all  hands  to  break  from  a  'Mively 
trot"  to  a  ''double-quick."     The  exercise  was  rather 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


20  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

too  much  for  the  ladies.  Some  of  the  less  pulmonary 
robust  gave  it  up  for  want  of  breath  ;  but  two  or  three 
remained,  with  myself,  to  brave  it  through  to  the  end. 

The  table  now  began  to  make  lateral  as  well  as 
circular  movements,  and  to  slide  over  the  carpets  al- 
most as  smoothly  as  if  it  had  been  on  ice.  Here  the 
ladies  gave  out,  leaving  Mr.  Craven  and  myself  alone 
to  accompany  its  peregrinations  from  one  parlor  to 
the  other,  perhaps  a  distance  of  forty  feet.  Mr.  Craven 
soon  became  "a  straggler,*'  when,  solitary  and  alone, 
I  kept  my  pace  alongside  of  the  pesky  runaway,  my 
hands  all  the  while  resting  on  the  top.  The  speed  of 
the  table  seemed  to  be  increasing,  or  perhaps  it  may 
have  been  I  had  less  power  to  keep  up  with  it,  when, 
of  a  sudden,  it  darted  across  the  room  toward  my  dear 
old  aunt,  who  sat  folding  her  hands  over  her  breast, 
amazed  at  what  she  saw.  Becoming  alarmed,  she 
stepped  upon  a  sofa,  and  beseeched  me  to  put  an  end 
to  this  play.  Before  her  the  table  stopped,  and  began 
tipping,  and  tilted  back  and  forth  several  times,  while 
my  finger  tips  rested  upon  it.  I  now  withdrew  them, 
and  the  table  stopped  all  movement. 

The  evidence  was  conclusive  that  I  had  "played 
the  trick  ;"  and  that  it  was  cleverly  done,  all  acceded. 
I  now  attempted  to  push  the  table  over  to  its  place, 
about  ten  feet  distant,  but  I  could  not  budge  it.  I  put 
my  whole  strength  to  it,  but  with  no  better  success. 
I  seized  hold  of  the  top,  determined  to  carry  it  over  to 
its  place,  but  could  not  lift  the  one  end  of  it.  It 
yielded  gracefully  to  the  united  efforts  of  two  young 
ladies,  who  lifted  it  to  its  proper  position  in  the  room. 

Various  were  the  speculations  about  the  evening 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRirUALISM.  21 

entertainment.  There  was  a  little  too  much  of  it,  to 
give  me  all  the  credit,  so  opinions  were  divided.  All 
conceded  it  to  be  a  splendid  parlor  amusement,  and 
there  were  ever  so  many  people  who  heard  of  it,  who 
expressed  the  wish  that  they  had  been  there.  It  be- 
came the  talk  of  the  town  ;  and  quite  a  new  interest 
was  taken  in  me  as  the  "magician"  on  the  occasion. 
I  never  was  just  so  much  talked  of  as  during  the  dis- 
cussion about  the  table-turning.  I  received  many 
"  invitations"  to  hold  circles  at  places  I  had  never  vis- 
ited, and  with  people  I  hardly  knew.  Still  I  main- 
tained my  equilibrium  of  mind  and  deportment,  and 
declined.  They  honored  me  overmuch  !  I  was  inter- 
ested, but  was  not  willing  to  make  sport  of  this  thing 
for  any  body.  One  of  our  town  clergymen,  who  had 
much  wealth  and  respectability  in  his  congregation, 
came  to  see  me.  He  became  interested,  and  I  con- 
sented to  spend  an  evening  with  him  and  a  few  friends 
at  the  table.  They  met ;  but  I  was  detained  by  pro- 
fessional engagements,  and  could  not  be  with  them. 
However,  the  play  went  on  without  Hamlet.  They 
sat  down  to  the  table  ;  and,  observing  the  rules  I  gave, 
it  was  not  more  than  an  hour,  so  I  was  informed,  be- 
fore it  began  to  grow  "frisky,"  and  "kicked  up  behind 
and  before,  like  old  Joe."  The  table  rotated,  so  I  was 
told,  making  it  quite  lively  for  all  hands  round. 
While  evoluting  in  this  way.  Rev.  Mr.  E.  concluded 
the  exercise  was  rather  laborious,  so  he  thought  to 
take  a  comfortable  seat  on  the  table,  and  have  a  nice 
ride.  But  there  was  no  comfort  in  it.  It  was  a  most 
unfortunate  conceit ;  for  no  sooner  had  his  clerical 
cloth  been  spread  on  the  table,  than  it  made  a  bound 

5 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


22  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

that  sent  him  flying  through  the  air  like  a  trap-ball. 
He  alighted  with  his  head  on  the  fire-rug,  about  ten 
feet  distant,  his  heels  describing  the  segment  of  an 
arc  in  his  flight.  Several  minutes  elapsed  before  the 
tangle  could  be  got  out  of  his  reverence's  hair,  so  that 
he  could  be  made  to  understand  the  exact  situation 
he  was  in,  and  how  he  happened  to  be  there.  It  was 
only  for  a  moment  that  he  was  discomfited.  **  This 
was  the  devil's  work,  for  nothing  less  irreverent 
would  deal  so  roughly  with  the  cloth."  That  was  his 
conclusion,  and  so  he  declared  it ;  and  "one  blast  upon 
his  bugle  horn  was  worth  a  thousand  men."  What 
he  said,  his  congregation  echoed. 

It  was  an  unexpected  turn  in  affairs.  Personally, 
I  felt  aggrieved;  for  I  was  in  the  zenith  of  popularity, 
and  enjoyed  the  joke  hugely— that  is,  if  it  can  be 
called  a  joke  to  be  not  only  suspected,  but  openly  ac- 
cused, of  being  the  author  of  all  this  pow-wow.  Alas  ! 
my  honors  faded  in  a  day.  The  devil  had  superseded 
me,  as  I  had  superseded  the  Welsh  wizard,  in  the  au- 
thorship of  this  eccentric  power.  I  had  tasted  the 
sweets  of  public  appreciation,  and  now  the  savory 
fruit  turned  to  ashes  on  my  tongue.  It  is  a  curious 
thing  to  watch  the  mental  evolutions  of  the  human 
mind.  They  are  by  no  means  uniform  in  different 
people;  they  vary  widely.  Your  poor  stupid  Welsh 
farmer,  when  he  sees  his  household  traps  flying  about 
his  humble  dwelling,  as  if  suddenly  endowed  with 
wings,  thinks  of  his  neighbor  whom  he  has  feared 
for  his  intelligence,  and  secretly  invests  him  with  a 
power  to  do  mischief,  which  could  only  be  obtained 
from  the  ^'roaring  lion"  that  he  has  heard  so  often  in 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUAUSM.  23 

his  sleep.  But  there  is  your  preacher— a  good,  sweet- 
hearted  man  !  He  dresses  so  nicely,  that  he  is  the 
admiration  of  his  whole  congregation  !  His  walk  is 
so  demure,  his  conversation  so  pious  and  elevating, 
that,  next  to  the  great  Spirit  of  the  universe,  he  is 
held  in  popular  esteem.  To  touch  him  is  as  much  a 
sacrilege  as  to  spit  on  a  Hindoo's  wooden-headed 
idol! 

All  that  is  false  affects  our  manhood.  A  lie  hurts. 
It  may  not  produce  physical  pain,  but  always  a  spir- 
itual deformity.  The  declaimer  and  acceptor  of  the 
falsehood  are  alike  injured.  Justice  is  assailed,  the 
heart  insulted,  and  the  intellect  assassinated.  The 
devil  is  no  more  to  be  lied  about  than  the  Welsh  wiz- 
ard or  myself.  A  lie  shows  the  depravity  of  both  the 
head  and  heart  that  concocted  or  uttered  it,  no  matter 
against  whom  it  may  be  aimed. 

One  step  had  been  taken,  however,  in  the  direction 
leading  to  a  right  solution  of  this  subject.  Table- 
tipping  was  no  longer  thought  to  be  the  work  of  man, 
but  the  devil.  This  carried  the  spirit  of  investigation 
among  the  imponderable  forces,  and  divested  the  phe- 
nomena of  all  human  agency.  That  was  something 
gained— an  important  step;  for  science  was  now  au- 
thorized to  step  in,  and  apply  her  crucial  tests  in 
determining  what  power  it  was  that  could  project  a 
heavy  man  kiteing  through  the  air  like  a  paper 
balloon.  Scientists  rarely  take  any  stock  in  the 
devil  It  is  a  poor  investment,  say  they.  So,  regard- 
less of  what  the  pulpit  might  say,  in  its  own  way,  in- 
vestigation went  forward.  Nothing  could  be  evoked 
that  gave  much  light  upon  the  subject.     The  tables 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


24  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

continued  to  tip  ;  and  science,  weighed  in  the  bal- 
ance, was  found  wanting.  No  proper  solution  could 
be  given  for  the  manifestation  of  this  odd  force. 
Many  theories  were  advanced ;  but,  on  close  analysis, 
none  were  found  tenable.  Speculation  was  rife.  The 
press  came  m  to  aid  the  pulpit;  and  while  it  was 
truculently  engaged  in  disseminating  false  theories 
and  devilish  ideas,  a  new  manifestation  was  given  at 
the  table.  Heretofore,  when  the  desire  was  expressed 
that  the  table  should  move,  it  obeyed.  Now  it  stood 
still,  and  spoke.  Language  is  the  utterance  of  sound; 
simply,  successive  waves  of  air  that  strike  the  sen- 
sorium  as  the  billows  of  the  ocean  break  upon  the 
shore.  The  interpretation  of  sound— its  investment 
with  sense — is  purely  conventional.  We  may  build 
up  a  system  of  laws  to  enable  us  to  give  a  proper  and 
uniform  expression  to  it,  but  we  make  sound  to  sig- 
nify just  what  is  most  convenient  for  us.  When  it  is 
conceived  in  the  brain  of  man,  and  uttered  by  the 
mandates  of  his  will  through  the  lingual  structure,  we 
call  it  speech.  Sense  is  thus  vocalized,  and  conven- 
tional forms  of  great  truths  are  expressed  and  under- 
stood. Taking  this  view  of  the  subject,  the  assump- 
tion that  sound  means  speech  is  not  an  unwarranted 
license  by  any  means. 

In  this  sense,  the  table  began  to  speak.  Sounds 
were  distinctly  heard,  as  if  reflected  upon  our  sense, 
from  the  under  surface  of  its  top.  What  can  they 
mean,  was  the  question  I  asked  myself,  again  and 
again.  Somebody  had  told  me  that  one  rap  or  sound  sig- 
nified noy  and  three  raps,  yes;  two  indicated  a  dotibt. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  2$ 

This  was   the  triple  key  to  unlock  the  mystery  that 
had  been  called  witch^  devil,  and  doctor. 

The  joyous  news  throughout  the  land  was  rung, 
That  every  table  now  had  found  a  tongue. 

I  began  to  question  the  raps,  and  found  them  apt 
in  their  responses.  In  company  with  others,  and 
when  alone,  the  raps  showed  a  willingness  to  answer 
questions  at  all  times,  when  asked  to  do  so.  To  be 
sure,  their  communications  were  limited  to  signify, 
"aye,  aye,  or  nay,  nay;"  but  even  these  simple  mono- 
syllables can  be  made  to  express  a  great  deal  I  said 
to  them,  "  Can  you  rap  sixteen  times  T'  and  they  an- 
swered, "  Yes."  "  Please  rap  sixteen  times."  And  so 
they  did,  and  then  stopped.  I  did  not  bid  them 
stop ;  but  of  their  own  accord  they  stopped  at  sixteen. 
"  Can  you  rap  one  hundred  times  T  I  asked  ;  to  which 
"  Yes"  was  replied.  "  Please  rap  one  hundred  times." 
It  was  done  with  accuracy,  and  I  made  the  count 
inaudibly.  I  asked,  **Are  you  a  witch  .^"  The  answer 
was,  ''Nor  "Are  you  a  devil  ?"  The  same  answer  was 
given.  "Are  you  Doctor  Faustus  ?"  Again,  ''No''  was 
responded.  "  Well,  once  more,  please  answer  me. 
Are  you  a  preacher T  "Yes!"  was  emphatically  pro- 
nounced, by  unusually  loud  raps.  "  Then  I  '11  watch 
you  closely,"  I  said.  "  Have  you  any  odor  of  brim- 
stone about  you  ?"  "  Not  an  odor,"  was  signified.  I 
was  a  little  puzzled  ;  but  let  that  pass. 

I  was  soon  made  to  understand  that,  by  using  the 
alphabet,  certain  letters  would  be  indicated  by  raps, 
which  would  spell  names,  words,  and  sentences.  So 
I  began  to  call  the  letters  ;  and  when  I  had  called 
"  C,"  a  rap  arrested  my  progress  for  the  time.     I  put 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


26  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

down  *'  C,"  and  commenced  calling  the  alphabet  again. 
When  I  reached  the  letter  *' h/'  another  rap  was  heard. 
"  Ch"  I  put  together  ;  and  continued  to  repeat  this 
system,  until  Charles  Odell  was  spelled  out.  This 
was  the  name  of  an  uncle,  who  had  been  dead  several 
years  ;  and  it  was  at  the  house  of  his  widow  where 
the  table  performed  the  antics  I  have  already  de- 
scribed. To  my  inquiry,  he  said  that  he  had  oper- 
ated with  the  table,  and  was  glad  to  be  able  to  let 
his  friends  know  that  he  still  lived. 

Up  to  this  time,  though  I  had  sought  diligently  for 
the  knowledge  of  the  fact  here  announced — namely, 
the  existence  of  an  after  life — I  had  no  evidence  that 
I  could  rely  upon,  that  after  death  I  should  live  again. 
Hearing  the  many  conflicting  theories  of  men — ■ 
springing  from  systems  of  religion,  plans  of  salva- 
tion, involving  vicarious  atonements,  murder,  and 
devilish  passion  —  I  had  become  hardened  in  the 
belief  that  no  affirmation  could  be  given  to  the  ques- 
tion, "  If  a  man  die,  shall  he  live  again  T'  I  doubted 
not  the  existence  of  a  supreme  intelligence,  occupying 
all  space  and  pervading  all  matter — governing  all 
things  by  immutable  laws  ;  but  that  man  had  an  in- 
dividual life  after  death,  and  that  he  could  be  recog- 
nized by  his  fellow-mortals  in  the  sphere  of  the  great 
unknown,  were  problems  of  such  distracting  doubt  in 
my  mind,  that  I  had  long  settled  into  the  conviction 
that  no  satisfactory  solution  could  be  given  them 
while  we  dwelt  upon  the  earth. 

These  tiny  raps,  and  this  brief-worded  communi- 
cation, unsettled  the  foundations  of  my  belief.  They 
had  spoken  to  my  mind  two  great  truths  upon  which 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  27 

the  soul  could  rest ;  and,  with  the  power  of  a  talis- 
man, had  opened  up  a  fountain  of  sweet  waters  in 
my  being.  They  demonstrated  two  new  problems  at 
the  same  instant :  the  verity  of  the  after-life  ;  and  the 
power  of  our  friends  who  had  passed,  as  we  thought 
forever,  from  our  sight,  to  visit  again  the  "  pale 
glimpses  of  the  moon"— in  such  a  form,  at  least,  that 
we  could  recognize  their  actual  presence. 

The  importance  of  this  discovery  will  be  variously 
estimated  by  different  persons,  according  to  their 
spiritual  temperaments  and  needs.  There  are  those 
who  place  so  low  an  estimate  upon  their  value  that, 
to  them,  ''a  mess  of  pottage''  or  a  glass  of  beer 
would  send  them  to  chancery  in  eclipse.  There  are 
others,  however,  who  hail  their  advent  as  the  dawn 
of  a  new  era,  and  in  them  see  and  hear  the  heralds 
of  the  good  time  coming,  proclaiming,  ''  Peace  on 
earth,  and  good  to  willing  men."  But  here  we  leave 
off  speculation  for  the  present. 

During  the  Winter  of  1851,  I  had  private  business 
that  called  me  to  Harrisburg,  the  capital  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. At  the  time  of  my  visit,  the  Legislature  was 
in  session ;  and  to  meet  conveniently  several  members 
of  that  body  with  whom  I  had  business,  and  who  were 
boarding  at  the  **  Goverly  House,"  I  made  that  my 
stopping-place.  This  house  was  the  place  of  rendez- 
vous for  a  number  of  the  members,  who,  every  night, 
came  there  to  caucus,  *'  lay  pipe,"  or  have  "  a  good 
time"  generally,  as  our  public  servants  best  know 
how.  Simon  Cameron  had  an  ax  to  grind  that  Win- 
ter ;  and  many  of  the  honorable  gentlemen  were  flush 
of  means  and  full  of  wine,  until  his  ax  was  ground. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


28  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

There  were  those,  however,  who  were  upright  in 
heart,  and  who  enjoyed  a  joke  for  the  love  of  fun. 
One  evening,  a  small  party  of  this  character,  perhaps 
a  dozen — among  whom  was  Mr.  Wells  Coverly,  the 
proprietor  of  the  house — retired  to  a  private  parlor 
to  hear  the  "spirit-raps.''  General  Bartram  ShaefFer, 
a  senator  from  Lancaster  County,  being  one  of  the 
party,  invited  me  to  join  them,  which  I  did.  It  was 
near  midnight  when  we  entered  the  parlor,  and  fast- 
ened the  doors  to  keep  out  intruders  ;  for  many  gen- 
tlemen (.?)  were  then  in  their  cups,  and  scarcely  in 
condition  to  interview  the  living  or  the  dead. 

Mr.  Coverly  took  a  position  in  the  middle  of  the 
floor,  standing  ;  while  around  him,  at  a  distance  of 
six  or  eight  feet,  sat  the  party  who  had  just  entered, 
all  curious  to  hear  the  raps.  Mr.  Coverly  said  :  ''Are 
any  spirits  here  that  wish  to  rap }  If  so,  jDlease  sig- 
nal your  presence."  Before  he  had  pronounced  the 
last  word,  a  rapid  succession  of  bumps  under  the 
floor  was  loudly  given.  That  was  the  beginning  ; 
and  I  thought  there  would  be  no  ending  to  this 
strange  interview.  It  was  kept  up  for  two  hours, 
during  which  time  all  kinds  of  questions  were  asked 
and  answered,  by  all  kinds  of  spirits,  who  claimed  to 
be  present.  It  is  not  expected,  I  know,  that  I  should 
enter  into  details  in  this  matter,  further  than  to  state 
that  Mr.  Coverly  again  and  again  stated  he  had  no 
confederate  in  this ;  and  also,  if  it  were  not  spirit-rap- 
ping, then  he  could  not  tell  what  it  was  ;  that  the 
noise  was. heard  about  him,  no  matter  where  he  would 
go;  neither  did  it  make  any  difference  in  regard  to 
time — day  or   night — still   they  were  heard :    in   his 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  29 

bed,  on  the  head-board,  at  his  table,  on  the  floor,  in 
the  office,  he  could  hear  them,  though  sometimes 
more  distinctly  than  others.  The  sounds  were  loud 
by  times,  but  always  as  if  muffled — as  if  a  cushion  in- 
tervened between  the  rapping  substance  and  the  floor, 
or  wherever  the  concussion  was  heard. 

Whatever  others  might  think  of  it,  Mr.  Coverly 
believed — else  there  is  no  dependence  to  be  placed  in 
any  man's  word — that  the  sounds  we  heard  were  pro- 
duced by  spirits.  Thio  is  all  it  is  necessary  to  say 
about  that  night's  seance.  I  never  expected  to  record 
it  in  the  manner  it  now  appears  to  the  reader;  and 
hence  it  has  only  been  preserved  in  memory  as  an 
experience  of  which  the  mind  could  not  divest  itself. 

My  chain  of  testimony  would  be  incomplete  were 
I  to  omit  a  link  that  belongs  to  it,  in  chronological 
order,  in  this  place. 

I  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the 
Winter  of  1853,  and  was  located  in  the  village  of  St. 
Jacobs,  Waterloo  County,  Canada  West.  My  ride 
extended  to  the  north  and  west  of  this  point  as  much 
as  thirty  miles.  The  country  was  sparsely  settled, 
by  Irish  and  Scotch  emigrants  from  the  Old  Country, 
and  was  known  as  the  *'  Queen's  Bush,"  much  of  it 
being  unsurveyed,  and  large  tracts  of  it  yet  unre- 
claimed from  the  proprietorship  of  the  wild  animals 
that  still  fed  and  flourished  upon  it.  Surveys  were 
made  as  fast  as  the  country  filled  up.  To  one  of 
the  new  townships  I  was  called  to  see  a  sick  child, 
belonging  to  Mr.  Charles  Burrows,  who  was  the  pio- 
neer merchant  of  the  township  of  Mornington.  It  was 
a  full  day's  ride  to  get  to  his  residence,  and  no  less  to 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


30  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

get  home  again.  This  was  my  first  visit  to  Morning- 
ton  ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  generous  hospitaUty 
and  genial  companionship  of  Mr.  Burrows  and  his 
estimable  wife,  I  sincerely  hoped  it  might  be  my  last. 
But,  to  the  point.  After  the  comfort  of  the  sick 
child  was  assured,  and  we  had  taken  supper,  Mr.  Bur- 
rows, while  at  the  table,  asked  me  if  I  had  had  any  ex- 
perience in  spiritism ;  to  which  I  replied  by  asking 
him  if  he  had  had — remembering  Robbie's  advice  to 
his  young  friend,  to 

"  Still  keep  something  to  yoursel' 
Ye  scarcely  tell  to  ony." 

He  was  free  to  tell  me  of  a  shoe-maker,  who  lived 
only  four  miles  distant,  following  the  blaze  on  the 
trees,  who  was  a  writing  medium. 

''A  writing  ivhatf  I  inquired,  not  understanding 
exactly  his  meaning,  and  for  the  first  time  hearing  the 
word  in  that  connection,  and  with  a  somewhat  du- 
bious sense. 

"A  writing  medium,"  he  said.  "The  spirits  take 
possession  of  his  arm  and  hand,  and  write  whole  pages 
of  the  most  wonderful  things." 

I  looked  incredulous  ;  if  I  did  not,  my  feelings 
were  not  reflected  in  my  face. 

'*  Are  you  jesting  V  I  said. 

*' By  no  means!  I  was  thinking  of  sending  for 
him  to  come  over,  to  let  you  see  him  write.  How 
would  you  like  it  t  We  can  have  him  here  in  two 
hours.     Or  are  you  too  tired  to  be  curious  T' 

"  O  no  ;  send  for  him.  Let  us  have  a  time  of  it," 
I  said.  "  I  have  never  heard  of  such  a  thing,  and  am 
curious  to  see  the  operation.     Did  you  say  the  spirits 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  3I 

write   by  controlling  his  arm  and  hand    against  his 
own  will  ?" 

'*  Exactly ;  that 's  what  they  do.  He  has  a  barrel 
full  of  manuscript  ;  and  keeps  paper  and  pencil  on  his 
shoe-bench  beside  him,  to  be  prepared  for  them  at  a 
moment's  warning.  He  may  be  engaged  pegging  a 
shoe-bottom,  when  he  is  suddenly  seized,  and  takes 
up  the  pencil  and  paper.  His  lapboard  serves  as  a 
desk  or  writing-table.  He  will  then  write  a  page  or 
two,  or  more,  rapidly,  when  the  power  leaves  him, 
and  he  resumes  his  work.  He  pays  no  attention  to 
the  manuscripts,  but  chucks  them  into  an  old  trunk. 
He  is  now  on  his  second  barrel.  I  have  seen  some 
of  these  manuscripts,  and  they  exhibit  a  grasp  of  in- 
tellect very  far  beyond  any  I  have. as  yet  discovered 
in  the  shoe-maker.  I'll  tell  you, something  in  confi- 
dence ;  but  'dinna  ye  be  speakin'  o' 't.'  You  have 
heard,  no  doubt,  that  my  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
last  Fall.  Well,  I  ..know  I  have  enemies  ;  and  the 
way  the  fire  originated  led  me  to  suspect  that  some 
one  who  did  not  Move  me  o'ermuch'  might  possibly 
have  accidentally  dropped  some  iucifer-matches  in  a 
dangerous  place.  Well,  the  shoe-maker  was  over  here 
last  week,  and  I  got  him  to  write  for  me ;  and  I  was 
amazed  to  receive  a  letter  from  an  old  friend  who 
had  been  dead  several  years,  informing  me  of  ail  the 
particulars  of  the  burning  of  my  mill.  He  referred 
to  the  circumstance  that  made  a  certain  man  my 
enemy,  who  had  no  other  way  to  express  his  resent- 
ment than  by  destroying  my  property.'*  After  giving 
me  still  further  particulars  in  regard  to  this  transac- 
tion,   Mr.  Burrows  asked  me  what  I   thought  of  it. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


32  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Of  course,  I  had  no  opinion  to  offer  until  I  had  met 
my  cord  wain  er  ;  so,  until  eight  o'clock,  we  passed  the 
time  in  interchanging  views  on  this  strange  subject. 
Mr.  Burrows  was  a  man  of  education,  young,  ener- 
getic, and  enterprising,  having  no  time  to  fool  away 
upon  abstract  questions  of  any  kind.  He  meant 
business.  I  listened  to  him,  therefore,  with  more 
consideration  than  I  do  when  addressed  by  a  specu- 
lating philosopher. 

A  little  after  eight  o'clock,  the  shoe-maker  came 
-  in — a  dark-haired,  sallow-complexioned,  medium-sized 
man,  about  thirty  years  old — spare  and  angular,  as 
shoe-makers  generally  are.  His  eyes  were  dull,  and 
indicated  a  lack  of  that  intelligent  fire  which  an 
education  would  have  lit  up  in  a  flame.  His  speech 
was  an  index  to  the  character  of  the  man — slow, 
drawling,  commonplace,  with  no  magnetic  life  in  it. 
He  was  not  above  the  average  intelligence  of  the  Old 
Country  poor  people,  and  even  lacked  the  proverbial 
native  wit  of  the  Irish  peasant.  He  had  only  been 
out  from  the  Old  Country  nine  months,  had  landed 
at  Quebec,  and  made  his  way  straight  up  the 
lakes  to  the  Queen's  Bush,  where  I  now  for  the  first 
time  met  him. 

Skipping  all  preliminary  details,  Mr.  Burrows, 
his  wife,  Crispin,  and  myself,  became  seated  at  the 
table,  and  the  writing  soon  commenced.  It  was  only 
a  name  at  first ;  but  that  was  sufficient.  The  hand 
was  strangely  moved  or  controlled  ;  and,  by  a  close 
analysis  of  the  movement,  it  could  be  seen  that  the 
action  was  involuntary.  The  name  written  was 
CHARLES    ODELL. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  33 

Startling  as  an  apparition,  the  characters  stood  out 
upon  the  paper.  I  affected  ignorance,  and  asked  Mr. 
Burrows  if  he  recognized  the  name  as  belonging  to 
any  of  his  friends.  Of  course  he  did  not ;  neither 
did  the  shoe-maker  medium.     I  said  : 

''  The  surname  might  be  Irish.  Did  you  know  any 
body  by  the  name  of  Odell  in  Ireland  ?" 

The  medium  said  he  did  not.  Just  then  his  hand 
was  controlled  again  to  write. 

**  Do  you  doubt  me  ?  It  was  I  that  moved  the 
table  that  frightened  your  aunt.     Charles  Odell." 

The  identification  was  complete;  but,  while  the 
opportunity  presented,  I  desired  to  make  a  crooked 
matter  straight.     I  said  : 

"  Uncle  Charles,  this  is  the  third  time  you  have 
manifested  to  me:  first,  in  your  parlor,  with  the  table; 
the  next  time,  by  rapping  the  letters  of  the  alphabet 
in  my  office  ;  and  now  you  announce  yourself  in  writ- 
ing. Do  you  remember  you  told  me,  the  second  time, 
by  rapping,  that  you  were  a  preacher?  How  shall  I 
understand  you  ?  Have  you  changed  your  profes- 
sion V 

The  answer  came  quickly  :  "  Have  I  not  taught 
you  great  truths  ?" 

"  Certainly,''  I  said  ;  "  but— 

"  The  man  or  spirit  who  teaches  a  truth,  preaches 
it.     Am  I  not  a  preacher  T 

"  O  yes  ;  I  comprehend  you  now,  and  will  remem- 
ber your  definition  of  preaching." 

Our  sitting  at  the  table  lasted  two  hours,  during 
which  time  as  much  as  six  pages  of  ordinary-sized 
foolscap  paper  were  closely  written   over.     Most  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


34  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

this  writing  purported  to  be  done  by  Charles  Oclell; 
and  if  it  were  not,  the  indicting  intelh'gence  certainly 
knew  very  much  of  his  private  business  and  family 
relations  ;  for  these  were  the  topics  written  upon.  It 
was  impossible  for  me  to  think  that  there  was  any 
collusion  between  Mr.  Burrows  and  the  Celt ;  for  I 
was  personally  but  little  known  to  the  first,  and,  to 
the  latter,  was  an  utter  stranger.  The  subject-matter 
of  the  communications  could  only  have  been  given  by 
one  most  intimately  informed  of  the  private  affairs  of 
my  uncle's  family. 

The  next  morning,  I  started  for  home,  revolving 
in  my  mind  the  strange  circumstances  that  had  trans- 
pired on  the  preceding  evening ;  and  resolving,  if  an 
opportunity  should  ever  offer,  to  investigate  this  sub- 
ject further. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  35 


CHAPTER   IIL 

INVESTIGATION   CONTINUED  IN  BOSTON,  MASS.— 
MANSFIELD,  THE  SPIRIT  POSTMASTER,  ETC. 

FOR  several  years  after  my  experience  with  the 
writing  medium  in  the  Queen's  Bush,  I  had  no 
opportunity  for  investigating  the  subject  of  **  spirit  man-^ 
ifestations"  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  Mediums  were 
not  "as  plenty  as  blackberries  in  August ;"  and  those 
that  were  known  as  ''  public  mediums,"  both  the  pulpit 
and  the  press  began  to  stigmatize  as  frauds,  cheats,  char- 
latans, and  by  other  opprobrious  epithets,  which  some- 
what cooled  my  zeal,  and  even  lessened  my  confidence 
in  the  genuineness  of  the  manifestations  I  had  already 
witnessed.  Again  and  again,  I  recalled  to  mind  all 
the  circumstances  under  which  they  had  transpired, 
to  ascertain,  if  possible,  some  weak  point  in  the  testi- 
mony upon  which  to  hang  a  suspicion  or  doubt ;  for  I 
had  no  motive  to  deceive  myself,  and  I  certainly  had 
no  desire  to  deceive  others.  Unfortunately,  too,  for 
me,  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  on  this  subject,  the 
mediums  accessible  to  the  public  lived  in  remote  parts 
of  the  country,  which  I  could  not  reach  without  in- 
curring much  loss  of  time,  and  what  I  then  considered 
an  inadequate  expenditure  of  money.  Thus  circum- 
stanced, my  interest  in  the  whole  subject  began  to 
flag,  and  I  felt  more  like  lapsing  into  the  infidelity  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


36  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

unbelief,  than  going  forward  to  secure  a  demonstration 
of  the  verity  of  an  after-life. 

Just  here  the  literature  of  spiritualism  began  to 
engage  my  attention ;  and  I  read  with  amazement  and 
most  absorbing  interest  the  great  work  of  Mr.  Davis, 
^'  Nature's  Divine  Revelations,  and  a  Voice  to  Man- 
kind." In  this  historical  compendium  of  the  origin 
of  the  universe,  I  found  so  much  that  was  sublime  in 
thought,  grand  in  sentiment,  and  noble  in  expres- 
sion, that  it  gave  a  complete  diversion  to  my  mind, 
and  engaged  all  the  grasp  of  its  powers.  His  other 
volumes,  "  The  Physician,"  "  The  Teacher,"  **  The 
Seer,"  *^  The  Reformer,"  "  The  Thinker,"  "The  Magic 
Staff,"  followed  in  the  order  of  my  reading,  sandwiched 
with  Ambler's  "  Birth  of  the  Universe,"  Linton's 
"Healing  of  the  Nations,"  Tuttle's  "Arcana  of  Na- 
ture," and  "  Scenes  in  the  Spirit  World  ;"  Harris's 
"  Lyric  of  the  Golden  Age,"  and  "Epic  of  the  Starry 
Heavens,"  and  many  other  productions  that  were 
claimed  to  have  a  spiritual  origin. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  indicate  more  minutely  the 
course  of  my  reading,  further  than  to  say  that  I  read 
most  of  the  books,  as  they  appeared  from  the  press, 
that  have  since  become  standard  works  in  the  litera- 
ture of  spiritualism. 

This  mass  of  reading,  instead  of  satisfying  my 
mind,  only  whetted  my  appetite  for  personal  knowledge 
of  such  facts  as  were  spoken  of  by  others.  I  could 
not  build  my  faith  upon  the  experience  of  others,  but 
wanted  facts  for  myself — broad,  solid  facts,  such  as 
I  had  started  out  with— whereon  to  rest  my  hopes  of 
an    after-life.     Different   men  read   and   reason  from 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  2>7 

different  stand-points;  their  conclusions  are  dissim- 
ilar. But  when  a  fact  is  presented,  as  if  struck  with  a 
bullet,  they  stand  dumb,  and  meditate  upon  the  pro- 
ducing law. 

My  desire  to  see  for  myself  the  manifestations 
others  had  witnessed  and  recorded,  grew  upon  me  day 
by  day,  until  I  finally  resolved  to  have  my  curiosity 
gratified,  at  whatever  expense  it  might  be  of  time, 
labor,  or  money.  It  was  a  felt  importance  to  know 
something  of  the  destiny  awaiting  me.  In  the  pur- 
suit of  such  information,  men  had,  in  all  ages,  made 
sacrifices  of  every  thing  they  held  dear,  even  life  itself, 
that  the  "great  riddle"  might  be  expounded.  Na- 
tions had  poured  out  their  treasures  of  money  upon 
the  altar  of  investigation ;  wars  had  been  waged  in 
the  same  spirit;  and  the  earth  had  been  reddened 
with  the  blood  of  martyrs  in  the  same  cause. 

I  could  not,  therefore,  be  indifferent  to  the  only 
promised  practical  solution  of  this  great  problem  of 
life.  A  knowledge  of  the  after-life  seemed,  to  my 
mind,  to  be  a  necessary  complement  to  all  we  know 
of  this ;  as  it  would  enable  us  to  understand  the 
relations  men  should  sustain  to  each  other,  and  dis- 
charge their  duties  with  clearer  judgment  and  fore- 
thought. Some  spiritual  organizations  can  be  sus- 
tained by  faith  ;  but  such  natures  are  of  a  sickly  sen- 
timental growth,  lacking  the  development  of  power 
and  force.  They  take  to  pious  water-gruel  as  a  child 
to  milk.  To  build  up  the  gristle  and  bone  of  man- 
hood, you  must  have  the  substantial  aliment  of  facts. 

To  build  a  dwelling-place  for  all  time,  the  foundation 

6 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


38  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

of  your  house  must  be  laid  on  granite  ledges — solid 
facts !  Here  the  man  can  build  securely  until  the 
dome  of  his  thought  is  lifted  to  the  heavens. 

I  had  read  enough,  and  the  time  had  arrived  for  a 
new  departure  in  the  track  of  investigation. 

Boston  seemed  to  be  the  center  of  interest  in  the 
spiritual  movement.  Here  were  located  several  public 
mediums,  whose  names  began  to  be  familiar  to  those 
interested  in  the  subject  living  in  remote  sections  of 
the  country.  The  secular  press  spoke  of  spiritualism 
as  a  **  Yankee  trick/'  a  Boston  notion,  and  a  dollar 
speculation.  But  time  has  shown  how  untruthful  the 
press  was  in  its  stigmatic  epithets.  To  the  everlast- 
ing credit  of  the  Yankees,  be  it  said  that  they  were 
the  first  to  recognize  this  divine  babe  in  the  manger, 
and  had  the  manhood  to  declare  the  manifestations  to 
be  genuine. 

Among  the  Yankees  I  went,  to  obtain  more  light 
upon  the  subject.  Distrustful  of  trickery,  I  visited 
many  mediums,  and  discovered  already,  under  the 
livery  of  spiritualism,  much  given  out  as  genuine 
manifestation  that  was  unreliable.  There  was  a  class 
of  people  anxious  to  monopolize  the  privileges  of 
media,  who  pretended  to  be  entranced  by  spirits,  who 
would,  in  this  condition,  give  utterance  to  the  most 
silly  and  ungrammatical  drivel  that  ever  assailed  the 
ear  of  credulity.  All  they  had  to  do  was  to  shut 
their  eyes,  squirm  a  trifle,  and  then  begin  a  dribble 
of  shilly-shally'  stuff  that  the  poorest  devil  in  the 
spirit-world  would  be  ashamed  to  own.  If  these  peo- 
ple were  not  self-deceived,  they  were  harmless,  for 
surely  they  did  not  deceive  any  man  who  had  capacity 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  39 

to   distinguish    the   difference    between   a  hen  and  a 
hand-saw.     They  were  the  baser  sort  of  Yankees. 

But  among  all  this  swash,  there  were  a  few  gen- 
uine mediums,  whom  it  was  a  pleasure  to  meet-— 
ladies  and  gentlemen  of  good  education,  culture,  so- 
cial position,  and  honorable.  From  among  this  class 
I  selected  one  to  assist  me  in  my  investigations.  My 
attention  was  directed  to  him  by  the  following  Card, 
which  I  saw  published  in  the  Banner  of  Light y  at  that 
time,  I  believe,  the  only  Spiritual  newspaper  published 
m  the  United  States: 

"MR.  J.  V.  MANSFIELD. 

"This  distinguished  'Writing  Test  Medium'  for  answering 
sealed  letters,  may  be  addressed  at  Chelsea,  Massachusetts, 
Box  do.  His  fee  is  th7'ee  dollars  and  four  postage-stamps.  Per- 
sons wishing  his  services  will  please  not  write  any  superscrip- 
tion on  the  letter  they  desire  the  spirits  to  answer,  but  seal  it 
so  it  can  not  be  disturbed  or  tampered  with,  without  detection. 
The  answer  and  the  sealed  letter  will  be  both  promptly  for- 
warded to  the  writer.""'''" 

Being  upon  the  ground,  I  did  not  write  to  Mr. 
Mansfield,  but  called  upon  him  at  his  residence,  when 
he  was  not  engaged  as  a  medium,  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  a  systematic  examination  of  his  peculiar 
phase  of  mediumship. 

It  was  finally  arranged  that  I  should  become  an 
inmate  of  his  house,  and,  for  the  time  being,  a  member 
of  his  family.  This  was  an  important  step  to  me,  as 
it  gave  me  facilities  to  study  the  character  of  Mr. 
Mansfield,  when  he  was  most  open  to  criticism.  I  did 
this  for  myself,  and  with  no  view  to  betray  any  weak- 
ness I  might  discover  in  his  character,  unless  I  held 
my  duty  to   society   at  large   more  binding  upon  me 

*  Mr.  Mansfield  is  now  (1875),  and  has  been  for  several  years, 
located  at  No.  361  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York,  where  lie  may  be 
addressed. 

Hosted  by 


Googk 


40  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

than  the  law  of  hospitality,  which  admitted  me  to  con- 
fidence, and  provided  me  with  food  and  shelter.  If 
Mr.  Mansfield  had  been  a  private  citizen,  I  should  not 
have  gone  to  his  house  ;  but  as  he  was  not,  it  was  my 
bounden  duty  to  know  all  I  could  of  his  private  and 
public  character,  that  I  might  form  the  clearer  judg- 
ment of  the  reliability  of  his  mediumistic  pretensions. 
It  was  of  much  importance  to  know  what  manner  of 
man  I  had  to  deal  with — something  of  his  personal 
habits,  his  reputation  for  speaking  truthfully.  These 
discoveries  in  a  man's  character  can  be  best  made 
in  his  own  house.  Here  it  is,  if  anywhere,  a  man 
shows  his  real  self;  and,  though  it  is  humiliating  to 
confess,  yet  it  is  nevertheless  true,  that  "a  man  is 
rarely  a  hero  to  his  own  valet.^'  The  lesson  is,  that 
when  you  know  men  intimately,  they  cease  to  com- 
mand your  respect.  Bat  there  are  exceptions,  and 
these  challenge  the  closest  scrutiny,  and  loom  up  in 
importance  as  the  inspection  is  intensified.  Among 
these  I  place  Mr.  Mansfield.  An  inmate  of  his  house,  I 
have  met  him  in  his  hours  of  social  relaxation — in  his 
gown  and  slippers  ;  no  studied  word  or  categorical 
look  to  disguise  the  real  man,  or  mar  the  harmony  of 
his  action.  With  him  I  have  broken  bread  and 
"  tasted  salt,"  and,  for  months  at  a  time,  have  been  to 
him  almost  as  a  shadow  to  the  substance.  From  this 
intimacy,  I  claim  to  speak  of  this  man's  character  with 
more  judgment  and  honesty  than  those  who  know 
nothing  of  him  personally,  but  who  seek  to  disparage 
his  excellence,  and  destroy  his  good  name.  With  him 
in  every  test  condition,  watching  him  closely  day  by 
day  for  months, — if  all  this  will  not  enable  me  to  speak 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  4 1 

of  this  gentleman  understandingly,  then  there  can  be 
no  reliance  on  the  judgment  of  man. 

And  now  what  testimony  am  I  expected  to  offer 
in  regard  to  this  man?  I  will  speak  of  him  as  I 
know  him.  You  who  know  him  better,  may  criticise 
my  opinion  ;  but  you  who  do  not  know  him  at  all,  for 
God's  sake,  put  your  hand  upon  your  mouth,  and  be 
silent.  You  had  better  be  a  dumb  beast  than  a  chat- 
tering rascal. 

I  will  anticipate  the  desires  of  the  candid  reader, 
and  state  fairly  what  I  know  about  this  singularly  en- 
dowed man  and  medium.  It  is  not  expected,  of 
course,  that  I  should  speak  of  his  private  character 
further  than  to  say,  if  I  had  detected  any  thing  upon 
which  I  could  have  rested  a  suspicion  that  his  me- 
diumship  was  a  human  contrivance,  and  in  any  sense 
unworthy  the  great  cause  to  which  it  is  devoted, 
I  should  have  relentlessly  exposed  the  fraud,  and 
abated  no  jot  or  tittle  of  my  zeal  in  condemnation 
of  the  man. 

I  believe  Mr.  Mansfield  to  be  an  honest  man ;  and 
that  he  is  a  genuine  medium  for  the  spirit-world  to 
communicate  with  this,  I  have  ample  proof.  It  will 
be  my  business  to  lay  this,  in  part,  before  the  reader. 
To  present  it  all,  would  fill  a  volume.  And  just  here 
is  a  proper  place  to  put  investigators  on  their  guard, 
when  they  begin  to  examine  this  subject  of  spirit 
manifestations. 

Do  not  make  up  your  mind  too  soon,  nor  bring 
to  the  investigation  of  the  subject  antagonizing  prej- 
udices. When  you  have  discovered  a  fraud,  keep 
quiet  until  you  know  it  to  be  really  a  fraud ;    then 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


42  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

expose  it.  If  you  speak  of  it  too  soon,  you  may  ex- 
pose yourself.  I  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as 
deprecating  a  full  and  fair  criticism,  but  only  enjoin 
upon  the  hypercritic  the  additional  quality  oi prudence. 
It  may  save  you  blushes  and  remorse,  when  you 
become  older  and  wiser.  Guard  sedulously  against 
that  carping  criticism  that  doubts  without  reason,  and 
condemns  without  proof.  Defer  judgment  until  you 
have  all  the  testimony  before  you;  theu  sift  it  closely, 
that  you  may  find  the  grain  of  truth  in  the  chaff  of 
error.  If  your  mind  is  poisoned  with  malice  or  preju- 
dice, you  are  not  fit  for  a  judge.  It  will  be  difficult 
for  you  to  understand  this.  Exercise  your  severest 
judgments  upon  your  own  ability  to  examine  this 
great  subject.  A  drunken  tinker,  with  tobacco-slavers 
dribbling  from  his  mouth-,  and  hiccoughs  in  his  dia- 
phragm, wanted  to  explain  the  whole  matter  to  me, 
while  he  leaned  against  a  lamp-post,  in  Cincinnati; 
said  he  could  do  it  in  five  minutes.  Thus  ^' fools 
rush  in  where  angels  fear  to  tread," 

It  is  hard  to  get  men  to  understand  how  little  they 
know  of  this  matter. 

It  will  be  seen,  from  Mr.  Mansfield's  Card,  that 
his  specialty  is  to  answer  sealed  letters.  Hence,  he 
is  known  far  and  wide  as  the  spirit-postmaster.  His 
correspondence  is  very  extensive,  reaching  to  all  parts 
of  the  United  States  and  British  Provinces.  Letters 
come  to  him,  indeed,  from  every  quarter  of  the 
globe,  and  in  every  language  that  has  a  grammatical 
structure. 

It  is  a  curious  thing  to  look  at  the  outside  of  the 
letters   Mr.  Mansfield  receives.     On   the  supposition 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  43 

that  he  is  a  trickster,  the  writers  frequently  seal  their 
letters  with  Spalding's  glue,  cover  them  with  paint  or 
varnish,  smear  them  with  wax,  and  I  have  seen  them 
stitched  by  a  sewing-machine,  until  the  decimal  of 
every  square  inch  of  the  envelope  was  secured  by 
thread.   Some  were  sweet-scented,  and  some  were  not. 

Mr.  Mansfield  and  myself  would  take  **  turn  and 
turn  about"  in  fetcliing  the  mail  from  the  post-office, 
he  bringing  my  letters,  and  I  his.  I  have,  by  this 
arrangement,  been  the  first  to  handle  the  letters  sent 
to  the  "spirit-postmaster.'*  The  answering  of  these 
letters  was  a  matter  of  more  interest  to  me  than  to 
Mansfield.  With  him  it  w^as  an  old  song;  it  meant 
work,  thankless  work  in  most  cases,  and  complete 
physical  exhaustion.  But  not  so  with  me.  This  un- 
known power  to  answer  a  letter,  without  knowing  a 
word  contained  in  the  letter,  was  a  novelty  that  inter- 
ested me  much.  The  letters  I  would  bring  to  Mr. 
Mansfield  very  rarely  got  out  of  my  sight  before  they 
were  answered,  and  returned  with  the  answer  to  their 
authors.  The  people  for  whom  Mr.  Mansfield  per- 
formed this  service  exhibited,  by  their  method  of  seal- 
ing their  letters,  a  suspicion  of  fraud,  or  that  their 
letters  were  opened  or  tampered  with.  I  failed  to 
make  any  discovery  that  would  tend  in  the  least  to 
confirm  such  impressions,  and  I  certainly  did  not  lack 
opportunity  to  detect  such  practice,  if  any  had  been 
attempted.  It  may  be  of  general  interest  to  know 
exactly  how  the  ''spirit-postmaster"  answered  sealed 
letters. 

Being  seated  at  his  writing-table,  I  lay  before  him 
a  half-dozen  letters,  bearing  post-marks,  perhaps,  from 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


44  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

as  many  different  states  in  the  Union.  The  outside 
envelopes  are  now  removed,  and  thrown  in 'the  waste- 
basket.  He  has  now  before  him  a  half-dozen  securely 
sealed  letters,  without  a  mark  or  superscription  to 
afford  the  slightest  clue  to  the  authors,  or  to  the  name 
of  the  spirit  addressed.  Over  these  he  now  passes, 
very  lightly,  the  tips  of  his  fingers,  mostly  of  the  left- 
hand.  He  touches  them  so  delicately  that  you  could 
fancy  him  picking  up  gold  dust,  a  grain  at  a  time. 
He  passes  from  one  to  the  other  until  all  have  been 
touched.  If  no  response  is  elicited,  he  puts  them  in 
a  drawer  and  locks  them  up.  In  a  half  an  hour  or 
more,  he  renews  the  effort  to  obtain  an  answer  to  the 
letters.  They  are  again  before  him,  and,  like  a  bee 
passing  from  flower  to  flower,  his  finger-tips  pass  from 
one  to  the  other  of  the  letters.  He  turns  them  over, 
and  senses  every  part  of  the  envelope.  The  glue, 
paint,  or  wax,  has  almost  destroyed  the  magnetic  con- 
dition of  the  letter ;  but  he  finally  gathers  it  up,  when 
his  left-hand  closes  with  a  spasm.  That  is  the  signal 
of  success.  The  spirit  addressed  in  the  letter,  that 
exerted  this  strange  influence  on  his  hand,  is  present, 
and  is  prepared  to  answer  it.  The  other  letters  are 
now  pushed  aside,  and  this  particular  one  remains 
before  the  medium,  with  the  fore-finger  of  his  left 
hand  touching  it.  He  has  in  a  convenient  place  long 
strips  of  white  paper,  and  a  pencil,  to  be  ready  for  the 
emergency.  All  is  now  ready  for  writing— the  pencil 
at  rest  in  his  right-hand.  The  point  of  interest  is 
now  in  the  finger  of  the  left-hand  touching  the  letter. 
It  begins  to  tap  on  the  letter  like  the  motion  of  a 
telegraph  key,  making  like  irregular  sounds.     Simul- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  45 

taneoiis  with  this  tapping,  the  writing  begins  with  his 
right-hand,  and,  without  intermission,  continues  until 
the  communication  is  finished.  There  is  no  rest, 
after  the  influence  begins,  until  the  completion  of  the 
work.  I  have  seen  as  many  as  twelve  strips  of  paper 
closely  written  upon  at  one  sitting,  though  three  or 
four,  perhaps,  would  be  a  fair  average  of  the  length  of 
the  communication  received.  The  writing  is  very 
rapidly  executed  ;  and  varies  in  style  as  much  as  is 
common  to  men. 

When  the  writing  is  completed,  the  left-hand, 
which  has  been  closed  all  the  time  with  a  spasm,  now 
opens,  and  the  influence  is  gone.  It  is  only  for  a  few 
seconds ;  for.  it  returns  again  to  write  the  address  of 
the  person  to  whom  the  letter  is  to  be  sent,  on  the 
envelope.  This  being  done,  the  letter  and  answer 
are  immediately  inclosed  in  the  directed  envelope,  and 
promptly  mailed.  The  whole  thing  is  business-like, 
orderly,  and  straight. 

I  have  watched  this  operation  closely,  and  have 
seen  it  repeated  a  thousand  times.  If  there  are  many 
letters  to  answer,  Mr.  Mansfield  very  rarely  spares 
the  time  to  read  what  he  has  written  ;  but  if  he  has  a 
little  leisure,  he  reads  the  communications  carefully, 
and  seems  to  study  them  with  the  interest  of  a  stu- 
dent. I  have  seen  him  for  an  hour  at  a  time  trying 
to  understand  the  exact  sense  of  one  of  these  strange 
missives,  using  an  "  unabridged  Webster "  to  assist 
him  to  comprehend  the  definition  of  words,  strange 
and  unknown  to  him.  When  names  were  given  in 
the  communication,  the  fact  was  always  of  more  than 
usual  interest  to  him.      These  were  what  he   called 

7 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


46  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

his  tests.  While  reading  a  letter,  I  have  seen  his  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  as  the  pathetic  story  of  a  spirit 
would  be  read,  in  which  perhaps  the  first  announce- 
ment of  its  translation  would  be  communicated  to 
friends  in  the  form.  I  remember  the  letter  of  a 
young  man  who,  in  the  early  excitement,  went  to 
California  to  obtain  gold.  He  was  an  only  son,  and 
the  stay  and  support  of  a  widowed  mother.  He  had 
been  successful  in  his  object,  and  had  transmitted 
the  evidence  of  his  success  in  handsome  amounts  to 
his  far-away  home  in- the  East.  His  preparations  for 
leaving  were  completed,  and  the  last  letter  written  to 
his  anxiously  awaiting  parent.  Day  by  day  he  was 
expected  home.  The  little  cottage  was  kept  in  order, 
to  give  him  a  pleasant  welcome ;  whilst  a  doting 
mother's  heart  was  warm  with  love  to  greet  his  re- 
turn. He  did  not  come.  The  distance  was  long, 
very  long;  he  must  have  been  detained;  perhaps 
had  changed  his  mind,  and  gone  into  the  mountains 
again.  Weary  months  passed  away,  and  still  that 
mother  awaited  the  return  of  her  manly  son.  But  he 
came  not. 

One  day  she  received  a  letter.  It  was  not  in  fa- 
miliar writing,  but  the  language  was  couched  in  the 
same  affectionate  terms  with  which  her  son  was  wont 
to  address  her.  It  was  the  story  of  his  death,  by  fever, 
on  the  isthmus,  with  all  the  particulars  attending  it. 
He  had  hoped  to  comfort  her  old  age,  and  be  with 
her  in  the  closing  hours  of  life;  but  it  was  not  so 
ordained  ;  and  wanted  his  mother  to  be  comforted, 
and  reconciled  to  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father, 
who  doeth  all  things  well.     He  was  happy,  and  would 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUA  L  ISM.  47 

meet  her  first  when  she  entered  the  spirit-world,  and 
would  take  her  to  a  beautiful  home  he  was  preparing 
for  her. 

A  recital  like  the  above  would  affect  him  to  tears. 
He  would  say,  "Wolfe,  I'd  give  any  thing  to  be  as- 
sured that  the  story  in  this  communication  is  true  T 

"  Do  you  doubt  it,  Mr.  Mansfield  ?"  I  would  ask. 

"  O  no  ;  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  it.  I  have 
never  known  a  statement  to  be  false  that  came  in  this 
way  ;  and  yet  this  thing  is  so  marvelous  that  I  can 
not  comprehend  it  at  all.  I  sometimes  feel  that  my 
life  is  a  dream,  and  my  existence  a  myth,  and  that 
there  is  nothing  real  or  substantial  in  all  we  see. 
Yesterday,  that  little  boy  wrote  to  his  mother  trying 
to  comfort  her  in  his  absence.  To  complete  his  iden- 
tity, he  recalled  the  particulars  of  his  death  by  drown- 
ing ;  how  he  had  gone  into  the  creek  to  bathe,  and  by 
accident  got  into  deep  water ;  how  he  struggled  to 
save  himself,  but  felt  no  pain  as  he  quietly  yielded  up 
his  life.  He  spoke  of  the  discovery  of  his  body;  named 
the  person  who  found  it ;  how  the  news  of  his  death 
caused  his  mother  to  swoon,  in  which  condition  she 
again  beheld  him,  and  of  her  loud  lamenting  over  his 
lifeless  body;  how  she  kissed  his  cold  lips  and  fore- 
head again  and  again,  crying  *  O,  my  son,  my  son  !' 
Then  again,  he  spoke  of  her  placing  her  picture  on  his 
pulseless  heart,  and  filling  the  coffin  in  which  his 
body  lay  with  flowers.  It  was  a  pitiful  letter,  and  has 
made  me  feel  sad  ever  since  I  mailed  it." 

''  Perhaps  it  will  be  a  comfort  to  the  mother  to 
learn  that  her  child  still  lives,  and  is  able  to  return 
and  watch  over  her,"  I  said. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


48  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"That  is  very  true,"  he  replied;  "perhaps  it  is 
all  right,  as  friend  Childs  puts  it ;  and  we  ought  not 
to  feel  so." 

I  have  known  Mr.  M.  to  be  suddenly  influenced 
to  write ;  and,  without  a  break  in  the  conversation, 
he  has  seated  himself  at  the  table,  when  a  long  letter 
has  been  written.  I  say  influenced  to  write.  This  is 
known  by  a  slight  muscular  spasm  of  the  arm,  which 
will  generally  show  itself  when  he  folds  his  arms 
across  his  breast,  or  clasps  his  hands,  or  rests  them 
on  his  knees.  These  positions  form  what  the  spirits 
term  an  electro-magnetic  circuit,  enabling  them  to 
approach  and  influence  the  nerve-center  of  his  motor 
system.  He  seems,  at  such  times,  to  be  inadequate 
to  the  exercise  of  his  will-power  over  the  motor 
nerves ;  but  his  thinking  faculties  are  as  lucid  as  when 
not  under  any  influence  at  all.  Blind  Tom  I  have 
seen,  with  his  right-hand  playing,  in  a  very  clever 
manner,  a  piece  of  difficult  music,  while,  at  the  same 
time,  he  performed  with  his  left-hand  another  intri- 
cate composition,  and  set  in  different  time.  While 
thus  engaged  differently  on  his  right  and  left,  he 
sings  a  song,  different  in  time,  the  sentiment  of  which 
he  must  memorize.  In  like  manner,  I  have  seen  Mr, 
Mansfield  writing  two  communications  at  the  same 
instant,  one  with  the  right-hand,  the  other  with  the 
left,  and  both  in  language  of  which  he  had  no  knowl- 
edge. While  thus  engaged,  he  has  conversed  with 
me  on  matters  of  business,  or  continued  conversation 
begun  before  this  dual  writing  commenced.  It  may 
thus  be  seen  that  while  Mr.  M.  hi m self  talked  in  a 
very   sensible  manner,  as   men  ordinarily  talk,  both 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  49 

his  right  and  left  arms  and  hands  were  engaged 
talking^  too.  On  one  occasion,  I  remember  distinctly, 
while  Mr.  M.  was  writing  with  both  hands,  in  two 
languages,  he  said  to  me,  "  Wolfe,  did  you  know  a 
man  in  Columbia  by  the  name  of  Jacobs  ?"  I  replied 
affirmatively;  when  he  continued,  **  He  is  here;  and 
wants  to  let  you  know  that  he  passed  from  his  body 
this  morning."  This  announcement  proved  to  be 
true.  But  what  we  are  most  interested  in,  is  the  triple 
manifestation  presented  on  this  occasion  :  Both  hands 
engaged,  not  on  the  same  subject,  but  each  differently 
writing,  one  in  a  back-hand,  the  other  straight  as  we 
ordinarily  do  ;  the  matter  written  differing  in  char- 
acter;  the  language  different:  and  yet,  while  our 
very  senses  ache  to  think  of  it,  a  third  man  speaks, 
and  announces  a  startling  fact  which  had  occurred, 
since  we  were  seated  in  that  room,  several  hundred 
miles  distant.  What  solution  can  be  offered  to  this 
triple  manifestation  of  intelligence,  power,  and  organ- 
ization .'* 

The  communications  thus  received,  while  they 
seemed  to  be  intended  to  show  that  no  ordinary 
man  was  equal  to  their  spontaneous  production,  had 
really  a  different  purpose.  The  letters  were  fre- 
quently for  persons  by  whom  they  would  be  esteemed 
**  godsends,"  and  upon  subjects  of  the  deepest  inter- 
est. It  looked  to  me  as  if  the  spirits  were  making 
the  best  use  of  time,  with  the  limited  means  at  their 
command— really  utilizing  the  mediums,  as  the  tele- 
graph is  kept  at  its  fullest  working  capacity  when 
business  is  brisk. 

Such   occasions  were   rare,   to  be   sure;    for  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


so  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

medium  could  not  stand  under  such  a  drain  upon  his 
nervo-vital  organization  without  suffering  from  com- 
plete exhaustion  ;*  but  that  a  manifestation  of  this 
character  can  be  made,  affords  the  mind  a  center 
from  which  to  reason  that  is  of  first  importance  to 
the  proper  appreciation  of  this  entire  subject. 

One  morning,  Mr.  M.  and  I  were  seated  in  his 
office,  engaged  _in  conversation  having  no  bearing 
whatever  upon  the  circumstance  I  am  now  about  to 
record,  when  very,  abruptly  he  said  :  "  I  feel  Father 
Pierpont !  He  is  now  entering  the  city.  He  will  be 
here  soon  to  see  me." 

''Do  you  mean  the  Reverend  John  Pierpont,  the 
poet,  and  Unitarian  minister  ?"  I  said. 

"  Yes.  He  is  one  of  God's  make  of  noble  men. 
You  will  love  him  very  much." 

We  talked  about  Mr.  Pierpont  quite  a  while,  when 
our  conversation  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
a  gentleman  who  desired  to  have  a  letter  answered 
which  he  had  in  his  possession.  Both  retired  to  the 
writing-room,  and  left  me  alone  in  the  reception-room. 
Very  soon  the  servant  opened  the  door,  and,  without 
announcement,  a  spare-made,  tall  gentleman,  with  the 
most  courtly  manner,  entered.  His  hair  was  white 
as  silk  floss,  and  his  face  was  a  blazon  of  intelli- 
gence and  benevolence.  His  voice  was  as  musical 
as  the  child's  first  utterance  to  its  idolizing  mother. 

*  Mr.  Mansfield,  I  regret  to  learn  tliroiigh  the  press,  has  become 
a  victim  of  paralysis.  What  influence  his  medinmship  has  had  in 
producing  this  distressing  condition,  can  only  be  conjectured,  of 
course;  yet  I  incline  to  the  belief  that  such  nervous  exhaustion  as  he  is 
subject  to,  when  overtaxed  with  writing,  favors  the  development  of 
paralysis. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  5 1 

Extending  his  hand,  with  a  slight  forward  inclination 
of  his  body,  he  said  : 

''  Good-morning,  sir.  My  name  is  John  Pierpont. 
Whom  have  I  the  pleasure  of  addressing?" 

"My  name  is  Wolfe,  I  am  interested  in  the  sub- 
ject of  spiritualism,  and  am  stopping  with  Mr.  Mans- 
field to  examine  the  manifestations  through  his  medi- 
umship,"  I  replied. 

''You  are  highly  favored,  sir.  Mr.  Mansfield's 
mediumship  is  very  remarkable,  and  presents  to  my 
mind  incontrovertible  evidence  of  spirit-power.  Is 
Mr.  Mansfield  engaged  at  present  ?'' 

"Yes,  sir;  but  will  be  free  to  see  you  very  soon. 
He  was  apprised  of  your  coming  an  hour  ago.  He 
then  said,  'I  feel  Father  Pierpont;  he  is  now  entering 
the  city ;  he  will  be  here  soon  to  see  me.'  Have  you 
just  come  from  Medford  .^"  I  asked,  seeking  to  con- 
firm the  statement  of  Mr.  Mansfield,  or  to  refute  it,  as 
the  facts  might  be. 

"  No,  not  from  Med  ford ;  but  from  New  York.  An 
hour  since,  I  arrived  at  the  Old  Colony  Depot,  and 
from  there  came  straight  here,  to  obtain  information 
respecting  the  whereabouts  of  a  lady  medium  whom  I 
have  been  directed  to  find,  but  of  whom  I  have  never 
heard  a  word." 

"  Perhaps  I  know  the  person  you  seek ;  and  can 
give  you  the  necessary  information." 

"Perhaps,  so,"  he  continued.  "I  have  been  visit- 
ing New  York;  and  last  night  attended  one  of  Mrs. 
French's  circles.  She  was  controlled,  imperfectly,  by 
the  spirit  of  my  wife,  who  said,  *  There  is  a  lady  me- 
dium in  Boston,  by  the  name  of  Plyde,  whom  I  can 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


52  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

manifest  through  much  better  than  I  can  through 
this  organization.  Call  upon  her  when  you  return 
home,  and  I  will  meet  you,  my  dear,  and  talk  to  you 
of  our  children  and  beautiful  home.' " 

"I  know  Mrs.  Hyde  very  well,"  I  said.  "She 
lives  on  Portland  Street,  near  Causeway,  and,  I  think, 
is  a  very  fine  personating  medium." 

Here  our  conversation  was  interrupted  by  the  en- 
trance of  Mr.  Mansfield,  who  greeted  the  venerable 
poet,  prophet,  and  philosopher,  with  the  warmlh  of  a 
loving  son.  After  chatting  awhile  about  New  York, 
spirit-mediums,  and  the  premonition  of  his  appearing 
in  the  city,  Mr.  Pierpont  left,  to  call  upon  Mrs.  Hyde. 

He  visited  our  rooms  several  days  afterward,  and 
gave  a  most  pleasant  and  highly  artistic  description 
of  his  interview  with  his  cherished  wife,  as  she  mani- 
fested through  this  lady  medium.  Speaking  of  his 
dear  one,  as  of  his  son,  he  said,  '*I  can  not  think  her 
dead !" 

My  object,  however,  in  this  conversation,  is  to 
call  attention  to  this  phase  of  mediumship. 

Mr.  Pierpont  visited  Boston,  on  this  occasion,  at 
the  instigation  of  his  spirit-wife,  and  started  on  the 
very  night  he  received  the  suggestion.  His  visit  was^ 
therefore,  unexpected  to  himself,  and  unlooked  for  by 
others;  and  was  undertaken  by  the  awakened  enthu- 
siasm of  his  own  soul.  Neither  Mr.  Mansfield  nor 
any  of  his  friends  knew  of  the  coming  of  the  "sweet 
singer,"  only  in  the  manner  already  described. 

It  is  pertinent  here  to  ask  whether  Mr.  Mansfield 
can  manifest  this  power  of  conscious  discernment  to 
all  people.     I  learned  from  himself  that  he  could  not. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


S3 


It  was  only  toward  those  with  whom  he  was  on  the 
most  intimate  and  fraternal  terms.  He  could,  how- 
ever, in  this  way,  sense  the  approach  of  a  person  who 
was  repugnant  to  his  subtile  feeling,  squares  away; 
and  would  shrink  from  their  presence  as  the  sensitive- 
plant  from  the  touch  of  rudeness. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


54  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PERSONAL  TESTS— PICTURE-WRITING— STRANGE    VIS- 
ITORS— THE  MEDIUM'S  SENSIBILITY. 


I 


T  was  not  long  before  I  made  the  discovery  that 
spirits  out  of  the  body  do  not  differ  very  much  in 
their  dispositions  from  those  m  the  body.  Let  us 
illustrate  this  proposition.  Mr.  A.,  while  in  life,  was 
a  truth-loving  and  benevolent  man,  had  a  scrupu- 
lous regard  for  his  word,  and  in  every  relation  of  life 
sustained  a  comeliness  of  character  sans  reproach. 
He  passes  to  the  spirit-world  ;  and,  from  his  new 
sphere  of  being,  is  invited  to  return  to  tell  us  the 
experience  he  has  had  in  passing  through  the  great 
transition.  In  doing  this,  he  is  not  likely  to  depart 
from  his  pre-spiritual  habit  of  speaking  the  truth.  He 
may  be  relied  upon  as  telling  exactly  what  he  believes 
to  be  true.  In  the  spirit- world  he  has  much  to  learn 
that  is  new  and  valuable,  and  also  much  to  unlearn 
that  is  old  and  worthless.  He  must  outgrow  the 
errors  of  his  earth-life,  and  learn  the  truths  of  his  new 
existence,  before  he  becomes  a  competent  teacher  to 
those  who  call  him  to  return.  He  will  come,  how- 
ever, and  do  his  best  to  advise,  instruct,  and  inform 
you  ;  but  he  is  as  liable  to  err  in  judgment  as  are 
those  he  seeks  to  gratify.  He  is  therefore  to  be  rea- 
soned with — to  be  met  with  the  amenities  of  contro- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  55 

versy  such  as  distinguish  civil  and  enlightened  debate; 
and  it  is  by  no  means  arrogant  to  assume  that  a  mor- 
tal frequently  exhibits  profounder  thought,  and  a  more 
thorough  appreciation  of  the  real  realities  of  spirit-life, 
than  those  who  have  actual  experience  to  offset  the 
argument.     Thus  an   uninformed  person    may  travel 
from  a  rural  district  to  a  large  city,  and  find  himself 
lost  in  the  crowd  of  pedestrians  with  which  he  meets 
and  mingles  upon  its  thoroughfares.     He  repeats  the 
motive  of  his  walk,  and  makes  the  same  optical  ob- 
servations, day  after  day,   month   after  month,  until 
years  have  passed.     He  finally  returns  to  his  country 
home,  and  with  him  brings  the  personal  experience  he 
has  had  ;  only  this,  and  nothing  more.     He  begins  to 
speak  of  things  he  has  seen,  and  feels  that  he  is  com- 
petent to  instruct  those  who  hear  him.     He  describes 
with  rustic  power  things  which  most  attracted  his  at- 
tention.    Mr.  B.,  who  has  never  traveled  beyond  the 
boundary  of  the  cloud-skirted  hill  which  he  sees  from 
the  open   door  of  the   house    in  which  he   was   born, 
asks  Mr.  A.  a  question  about  something  of  which  he 
has  read  pertaining  to  the  city.     A.  is  blank.     "  He 
did  n't  see  it.     He  does  n't  believe  the  thing  in  ques- 
tion is  \\\  the  city,  else  he  would  have  seen  it."     How 
preposterous !     If  it  be  understood  that  information 
is  limited  to  what  we  see,  then  really  but  little  can  be 
known  of  the  great  realm  of  truth  which  lies  beyond 
the  scrutiny  of  sense.     It  is  the  brain  that  thinks,  that 
possesses  knowledge.     He  who  absorbs  what  he  sees, 
feels,  and  hears,  and  gives  the  esse  a  healthy  diges- 
tion—one who  grasps  the  whole     can  speak  of  parts 
the  best. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


56  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Thus,  when  we  commence  our  investigations  of 
the  spirit-life,  we  should  think  that  but  little  is  under- 
stood of  its  actual  condition,  and  by  no  means  make 
that  little  knowledge  the  boundary  limit  of  our 
thought.  We  have  capacity  to  know  all ;  and  the 
more  our  faculties  for  acquiring  knowledge  are  exer- 
cised, the  larger  will  grow  the  area  of  truth  to  our 
apprehension. 

When  I  began  my  correspondence  with  inhabit- 
ants of  the  spirit-world,  I  yielded  an  implicit  belief  to 
all  I  received  from  them,  until  I  found  myself  the 
dupe  of  an  overcredulous  mind.  Then  I  quickly  turned 
to  the  austere  extreme  of  skepticism,  and  maintained  a 
chilling  distrust  toward  all  I  saw  and  heard.  Both 
conditions  of  mind  were  incompatible  with  a  just  ap- 
preciation of  facts  when  presented ;  and  so  I  settled 
down  from  the  extremes  of  credulity  and  skepticism 
to  that  common-sense  mean  through  which  we  sift 
and  filter  the  communications  we  receive  from  our 
fellow-men,  and  applied  this  rule  to  the  intercourse  I 
held  with  those  who  had  **  passed  to  the  land  o'  the 
leal."  Let  us  not  essay  to  supersede  human  nature 
in  thought,  word,  or  deed,  and  then  we  shall  be  as 
near  right  as  it  is  profitable  to  be. 

In  this  animus,  I  opened  my  correspondence  with 
the  spirits,  through  Mr.  Mansfield.  I  wrote  my  let- 
ters plainly,  and  with  as  little  ambiguity  of  sense  as 
I  was  capable  of  doing.  I  wrote  to  those  who, 
I  felt  confident,  would  have  honored  my  correspond- 
ence in  the  form  and  with  the  same  familiarity  with 
which  I  would  have  addressed  an  old  and  intimate 
friend.      I   reserved   as  little   to   myself  as   possible. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  ' 5  7 

acting  in  this  as  well  upon  the  impulses  of  my  nature 
as  upon  the  advice  of  the  Ayrshire  bard  : 

"Ay  free  aff-liand  your  story  tell, 
When  wi'  a  bosom  crony." 

It  was  not  always  convenient  for  Mr.  M.  to  give  my 
letters  immediate  attention  ;  but  this  did  not  deter 
me  from  writing.  Living  in  an  atmosphere  of  har- 
mony, in  a  place  where  spirits  held  convocation 
night  and  day  around  their  favored  medium,  I  almost 
felt  the  presence  of  my  friends  in  spirit-life,  as  Mans- 
field had  sensed  the  presence  of  Mr.  Pierpont.  At 
such  times,  I  would  sit  down  and  write  a  free,  frank, 
familiar  letter,  put  it  in  an  envelope,  and  await  a 
favorable  opportunity  to  have  it  answered.  Before 
this  could  be  done,  however,  I  would  write  other  let- 
ters ;  and,  in  this  way,  have4iad  at  one  time  as  many 
as  iiventy-five  letters,  all  ready,  as  opportunity  favored, 
for  Mr.  Mansfield's  delicate  manipulation.  These  I 
would  carry  with  me,  each  inclosed  in  an  unsuper- 
scribed  buff  envelope.  As  the  envelopes  w^ere  uni- 
form in  size,  shape,  and  color,  I  had  no  marks  upon 
them  to  distinguish  one  from  the  other.  As  an  op- 
portunity occurred — that  is,  when  the  medium  was 
not  too  much  exhausted  by  work,  and  not  otherwise 
engaged— I  would  lay  before  him  my  whole  batch  of 
letters,  to  ascertain  whether  any  one  of  the  twenty- 
five  spirits  addressed  in  the  letters  were  present,  and 
could  control  to  write.  Under  such  conditions,  it  was 
very  rare  that  the  effort  failed  to  obtain  a  response 
from  some  one  or  two.  He  would  pass  his  hand  over 
this  epistolary  display,  and  pick  up  a  letter  at  random, 
as  already  described,  and  proceed  to  answer  it.     It  is 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


58  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

worthy  of  remark,  that  I  have  never  known  him  to 
fail  to  be  accurate  in  obtaining  the  name  of  the  party 
addressed,  and  either  a  message  from  the  said  party, 
or  a  reason  given  why  they  did  not  write.  The  re- 
sponse always  evinced  a  perfect  familiarity  with  the 
subject,  circumstances,  dates,  or  persons  alluded  to,  in 
my  letter,  when  the  indicting  spirit  was  the  one 
addressed. 

Their  replies  were  often  of  the  most,  astonishing 
character.  They  were  not  simply  pert  and  pointed, 
but  in  them  were  often  embodied  the  new  thought,  the 
new  fact,  new  names,  new  circumstances,  new  dates  ; 
and,  when  I  say  new,  I  mean  that  by  no  forced  con- 
struction of  the  language  of  my  letter  could  such  in- 
formation be  obtained  as  was  frequently  imparted, 
even  had  my  letter  been  -openly  submitted  to  the  in- 
spection of  any  number  of  doubting,  caviling,  or  crit- 
ical readers.  I  will  take,  without  any  special  reasons 
for  doing  so,  the  following  letter,  from  among  a  hun- 
dred I  received,  to  illustrate  this  curious  proposition. 
The  letter  was  inclosed  in  a  sealed  envelope,  among 
twenty-five  others,  and  was  undistinguisbable  from 
the  rest.  But  to  enable  the  reader  to  try  his  powers 
to  give  a  satisfactory  reply  to  it,  consider  the  letter 
open  and  under  your  eye,  and  then  speculate  upon  it 
as  much  as  you  like.     Here  it  is : 

Robert    Speer,  late  of  Cassville^    Htmtingdon  County,  Pennsylvania, 

noio  in  the  Spirit-world : 

Dear  Friend, — Can  you,  by  any  means  you  may  employ, 
satisfy  my  mind  of  your  personal  presence,  and  establish  your 
individual  identity  beyond  a  reasonable  doubt?  Any  communi- 
cation you  may  give  of  such  a  character  will,  I  need  not  tell  you, 
be  gratifying  to,  and  gratefully  appreciated  by,  your  friend  for 
aye,  N.  B.  Wolfe. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  jq 

Now,  let  the  reader  consider  this  was  a  concealed 
letter,  and  occupied  a  promiscuous  place  among  more 
than  a  score  of  other  equally  ambiguous  letters  now 
lying  before  Mr.  Mansfield.  I  need  not  again  explain 
the  manner  of  his  selection  :  how  he  delicately  touches 
the  letters  with  the  tips  of  his  fingers,  turns  them  over, 
and  again  solicits  the  end  of  attenuated  thread  that 
will  unwrap  the  mystery  of  death  and  the  after-life. 
At  last  he  finds  the  influence.  Robert  Speer 
has  heard  the  call,  and  responds  to  my  request.  He 
comes  to  establish  his  personal  identity— through  what 
difficulties  I  can  not  tell,  at  what  sacrifices  I  have  no 
means  of  knowing.  How  shall  he  begin  ?  The  situa- 
tion is  awkward.  He  may  revive  some  story  that  is 
laid  away  m  the  storehouse  of  my  own  memory;  but 
that  won't  do.  I  must  have  proof,  outside  of  my  own 
mind,  of  my  friend's  presence. 

The  medium's  hand  begins  to  move  over  the  white 
paper.  The  pencil-marks  were  irregularly  drawn,  and 
by  no  conjecture  could  I  guess  the  meaning  of  all  this 
scribbling.  But  patiently  I  sat,  and  noticed  this 
strange  device  ;  for  I  had  no  doubt  it  was  intended  as 
a  reply  to  my  request:  A  horse  began  to  shape  up; 
another  followed,  though  in  the  lead.  What  could  it 
mean  ?     It  now  began  to  seem 

''A  mighty  maze,  but  not  without  a  plan." 

The  pencil  glided  more  swiftly  than  ever,  and,  at 
each  stroke,  some  line  of  development  was  unfolded. 
I  need  not  continue  to  mark  the  curious  tracery  to 
the  end.  The  picture — for  such  it  was — was  com- 
pleted in  thirty  minutes.  Now  let  us  examine  the 
details  of  this  uniquely-produced  composition. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


6o  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Above  the  'jack's  Narrows,"  in  the  Valley  of  the 
Juniata — a  point  formerly  known  as  '^  Van  Devender's 
Lock"— you  have  as  beautiful  a  river,  valley,  and 
mountain  view  as  can  be  found  anywhere  on  the  con- 
tinent. The  scenery  is  composite  ;  the  pastoral  and 
the  wild  form  a  most  enchanting  picture  to  the 
rapt  senses.  From  this  point,  you  see  Sideling 
Hill,  stretching  to  the  west  as  far  as  the  eye  can 
reach,  or  until  the  horizon  abruptly  closes  the  view. 
This  was  the  general  outline  of  the  picture.  Now  for 
the  details.  Along  the  hill-side,  a  much-traveled  road 
is  plainly  discerned  from  the  river  valley.  The  farm- 
ers from  Trough-creek  Valley,  of  which  Sideling  Hill 
forms  the  southern  boundary,  haul  their  produce  over 
this  road  to  the  Pennsylvania  Canal,  at  Van  Deven- 
der's, whence  it  is  shipped  to  Philadelphia  in  common 
freight-carrying  boats.  In  the  picture  we  have  the 
mountain,  with  a  loaded  four-horse  wagon  descend- 
ing—the road,  the  valley,  the  river,  and  the  canal, 
fairly  presented;  a  canal-boat,  with  two  horses  tan- 
dem attached  ;  and  a  little  mischievous  driver  flour- 
ishing a  whip  by  way  of  stirring  up  the  leader.  On 
the  boat  is  painted  the  name  ''Thomas  Jefferson^ 
On  the  bags  in  the  wagon  is  printed  ''R.  Speer!' 

"  Now  what  of  all  this  description  .?"  says  the  im- 
patient reader.  But  that  is  my  question.  I  ask, 
*^What  of  all  this.?"  I  have  shown  you  the  letter  to 
which  this  is  a  reply,  and  now  I  wish  you  to  decide 
upon  its  pertinency.  Cassville  is  in  Huntingdon 
County;  that  is  true.  And  this  scenery  is  in  the 
Valley  of  the  Juniata,  and  can  be  appreciated  from 
Van  Devender's  Lock.     But  remember,  I   have  told 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  6 1 

you  all  this.  You  could  learn  nothing  of  this  from 
the  letter.  Now,  what  else  do  you  see  in  the  picture 
that  is  an  apt  reply  to  the  letter?  Nothing,  abso- 
lutely nothing!  But  I  forget;  you  are  not  expected 
to  see  it,  Robert  Speer  was  called  upon  to  give  me 
a  test  of  his  persofial  presence y  and  his  hidividital  iden- 
tity !  Has  he  done  so.?  The  only  writing  discernible 
was  this  brief  sentence  : 

"  Mother  is  here,  and  will  communicate." 

Still  no  clew  to  the  proper  interpretation  of  the 
picture ;  rather,  the  whole  subject  is  more  ambiguous 
than  before. 

Now  for  my  interpretation  of  this  picture-writing; 
the  reader  may  then  understand  it  more  clearly  than 
at  present. 

In  my  early  life,  I  was  in  the  service  of  Robert 
Speer.  He  lived  beyond  the  mountain  described,  in 
the  Valley  of  Trough  Creek.  He  was  the  merchant  of 
the  valley,  and  bought  the  grain,  and  other  produce 
of  the  farm  and  dairy,  from  the  farmers.  Those  who 
could  deliver  their  produce  at  the  canal,  the  boat, 
Thomas  Jejferson,  was  there  to  receive  it,  until  laden 
for  her  trip.  Daily  trips  of  wagons  from  Cassville  to 
the  canal  and  back,'were  made.  Bags  of  grain  marked 
"R.  Speer"  generally  stood  upright  in  the  wagons, 
a  sketch  of  which  we  have  in  the  picture.  I  was, 
as  already  stated,  in  Mr.  Speer's  employ,  and  served 
in  the  capacity  of  cow-boy,  store-boy,  and  boat- 
driver.  I  suspect  the  chappie  on  that  hind  horse, 
who  is  now  making  the  leader,  "Old  Mike,"  frisky, 
by  tickling  his  rump  with  a  new  silk  cracker,  is  about 
thirteen  years  old,  with  a  shocking  head  of  hair  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


62  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

color  of  tan-bark,  his  face  freckled  ;  and  if  he  answers 
you  civilly  when  addressed,  will  likely  tell  you  his 
name  is  Nep, 

But,  again  the  impatient  reader  exclaims:  "What 
of  all  this  ?  We  can  see  nothing  in  your  story  that 
has  any  bearing  upon  the  letter  addressed  to  Robert 
Speer."    • 

Well,  then,  God  pity  you!  Why  didn't  you  an- 
swer my  letter,  with  your  eyes  upon  it,  before  this 
answer  was  given  ?  This  illustrated  reply  to  my  let- 
ter, I  submit,  is  as  apt  and  germane  as  any  reply 
could  be.  There  was  no  equivocal  sense  con- 
veyed in  this  rejoinder.  It  was  all  true  to  life; 
and  if  the  personal  identity  and  individual  presence 
of  Robert  Speer  was  not  clearly  manifest,  then  I  am 
graceless  enough  to  ask,  *'What  character  of  testi- 
mony can  establish  a  fact  ?" 

The  reader's  own  good  sense  Vt^ill  discern  the 
strong  points  in  this  test  of  spirit  presence  and 
identity.  There  has  been  no  theory  advanced  that 
will  explain  all  this  so  satisfactorily  as  that  which 
admits  the  presence  or  agency  of  Robert  Speer  as  an 
individualized  spirit. 

My  mind  upon  this  latter  point  was  clear  and  de- 
cided, and  there  did  not  seem  to  be  any  necessity 
for  more  testimony  to  confirm  my  convictions. 
Nevertheless,  the  medium's  hand  was  again  put  in 
motion,  in  reply  to  some  conjectural  remarks  in 
reference  to  the  announcement  made  in  the  picture 
that  ''  mother  would  communicate."  It  will  be  re- 
membered that  I  made  no  allusion  to  "mother." 
My   mother  was  still  in  the  form;  and  Mr.  Speer's 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


63 


mother  was  but  little  known  to  me,  and  there  was  no 
reason  why  she  should  have  any  desire  to  write  me  a 
letter.  Still,  she  was  announced  as  being  present, 
and  would  write.  That  was  my  understanding  of  the 
message. 

As  already  stated,  the  medium's  hand  began  to  be 
agitated  again  ;  and  while  the  picture  was  still  under- 
going a  critical  examination,  moved  with  the  pencil 
over  the  paper.  The  result  of  this  control  was  simply 
a  chest  of  drawers,  or  bureau.  There  was  no  evidence 
of  skill  displayed  that  the  veriest  tyro  in  drawing 
might  not  successfully  compete  with  ;  still,  there  were 
four  drawers  in  the  set,  upon  which  the  following 
names  were  inscribed  : 


GEORGE. 


WALTER. 


NAPPY. 


JOHN. 


Underneath  this  was  written : 

"You  were  all  children  to  me,  and  required  a  mother's  care. 
Did  you  not  call  me  *  mother  .f*'  Mother  Speer." 

If  I  had  had  any  doubts  in  my  mind  as  to  the  veri- 
table presence  and  individuality  of  Robert  Speer,  this 
unlooked,  uncalled  for,  manifestation  completely  dis- 
pelled them.  It  is  necessary  to  offer  some  explanation 
of  the  above  volunteer  test,  that  its  value  as  such 
may  be  the  better  appreciated. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


64  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

I  have  intimated  that,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years, 
I  was,  by  the  stress  of  "iron  fortune,"  thrown  upon 
my  own  resources  in  the  world.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  enumerate  what  these  resources  were.  I  was  a 
mere  child,  and  small  for  my  age.  I  had  "  straggled  " 
from  home,  and  engaged  to  "drive  boat"  for  Robert 
Speer.  The  first  boat  I  ventured  my  fortune  with 
was  the  old  Stephen  Girard ;  but  she  was  not  a 
"dainty  skipper,"  and  was  found  to  be  "  unsea worthy  " 
for  the  "raging  canawl."  Captain  Querry  and  the 
Girard  were  soon  superseded  by  Captain  Miller  and 
the  Thomas  Jefferso7i.  In  the  transfer,  I  was  left  out, 
and  was  taken  from  the  boat  by  Mr.  Speer,  and  ad- 
mitted into  his  family.  Here  I  received  the  same 
training  and  attention  bestowed  upon  his  own  chil- 
dren. Mother  Speer  was  mother  to  all  of  us  ;  and  if 
she  discriminated  in  her  love  among  us,  I  was  too 
young  to  notice  it,  and  too  well  satisfied  to  prefer  a 
complaint. 

That  there  was  no  partiality  shown  in  her  great 
motherly  heart,  was  sufficiently  evinced  by  the  care 
she  displayed  for  all  our  childish  wants.  None  of  us 
had  yet  outgrown  the  reckless  period  in  life,  when 
accident's  to  trowsers  were  both  frequent  and  com- 
mon— sometimes,  I  may  add,  fatal  to  their  comeliness 
'a  posteriori.  But,  no  matter  how  terrible  the  accident 
might  be,  a  patch  or  a  stitch  could  mostly  repair  it,  if 
"taken  in  time."  That  was  always  done.  If  there 
were  but  two  buttons  left,  after  a  hard  contest  with  a 
more  skilled  "pitcher  and  tosser"  than  myself,  in  due 
course  of  time  the  despoiled  garment  would  find  its 
way   into    "drawer    number    three" — marked  on  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  65 

diagram  '' Nappy  "—with  all  the  buttons  intact  for  use 
on  Sunday  morning.  Need  I  apologize  for  calling 
this  great  good  woman  "mother?" 

George  was  her  eldest  son — about  my  own  age. 
He  had  by  the  right  of  „  seniority  the  first  drawer. 
Walter  was  the  second  son,  to  whom  was  given  the 
second  drawer.  John  was  the  third  son  ;  but  here 
arose  the  question,  whether  he  ought  to  have  pre- 
cedence over  my  age  t  He  was  very  much  younger 
than  I.  It  was  finally  settled  that  my  drawer  should 
be  the  third,  and  John's  the  fourth.  This,  it  was 
alleged,  would  make  me  feel  more  satisfied,  and  like 
one  of  the  family.  It  was  a  fine  display  of  delicate 
thought  and  feeling,  which  I  recall  with  pleasure  after 
sleeping  over  it  almost  forty  years.  Goodness,  when 
it  touches  the  heart,  is  "a  thing  of  beauty  and  a  joy 
forever." 

The  reader  will  now  see  the  bearing  of  the  test 
given  in  the  picture  of  the  bureau.  Let  him  couple 
this  and  the  -picture  of  the  boat  and  driver  together, 
and  then  candidly  say  whether  it  is  not  more  difficult 
to  disbelieve  the  assumed  presence  of  Robert  Speer 
and  Mother  Speer,  than  to  admit  their  presence  and 
their  authorship  of  the  pictorial  communications  I  had 
received. 

If  these  were  isolated  cases,  unsupported  by  other 
concurrent  testimony  in  favor  of  the  spiritual  theory, 
then  we  might  abandon  the  ground  assumed,  and  say 
a  deception- had  been  practiced  ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
every  letter  I  submitted  to  the  touch  of  Mr.  Mans- 
field elicited  facts  and  responses  no  less  striking  and 
conclusive  than  those  I  have  cited.     He  has  answered 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


66  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

for  me  more  than  one  himdred  letters  in  this  manner ; 
and  it  has  happened  but  very  rarely  that  the  spirits 
communicating  failed  to  give  the  most  indubitable 
evidence  of  their  complete  identity. 

I  have  seen  Mr.  Mansfield  answer  more  than  one 
thousand  sealed  letters,  and  under  such  circumstances 
that  to  suspect  him  of  tampering  with  seals,  or  hav- 
ing personal  knowledge  of  what  was  written  through 
his  hand,  is  simply  a  sad  reflection  upon  one's  sanity. 

The  office  of  a  spirit-postmaster  (as  Mr.  Mansfield 
has  been  called)  is  a  very  interesting  place  to  outside 
observers.  People  come  there  or  send  for  letters, 
who  are  little  suspected  for  having  any  correspondence 
with  the  "dead."  Many  are  manly,  outspoken,  and 
openly  avow^ed  believers  in  spirit-intercourse ;  '*  but 
others  are  afraid,  you  know,  that  something  might  be 
said,  you  know  ;  and  they  would  n't,  for  the  world,  let 
it  be  known,  you  know,  that  they  really  believed  in 
this  thing,  you  know!"  This  kind  of  twaddle  you 
hear  every  day  from  people  who  go  spooking  through 
life,  unknowing  and  unknown.  They  drop  out  of  ex- 
istence, and  their  memory  rarely  survives  the  dis- 
charge of  the  undertaker's  bill,  which  is  always  grum- 
bled at  for  being  too  high— too  much  expense  for 
burying  such  a  carcass.  One  day,  two  people  entered 
Mr.  Mansfield's  office,  muffled  and  hooded  like  two 
thieves  on  a  professional  visit.  Thick  black  veils 
covered  the  face  of  the  woman  ;  and  the  man  had  his 
hat  drawn  over  his  forehead  to  his  eyebrows,  and  a 
huge  muffler  about  his  face.  He  squeaked  out,  in  a 
disguised  voice  : 

''  Are  you  the  spirit-postmaster  .?" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  6/ 

"No!"  I  said,  with  a  voice  like  a  cutting  knife: 
''what  is  your  business  with  the  spirit-postmaster?" 

**We  want  to  get  a  letter  from  the  spirits,"  said 
the  simpering  woman. 

''  O !  I  beg  your  pardon !  I  thought  you  were 
thieves,  and  wanted  to  steal  something.  Mr.  Mans- 
field is  engaged  just  now." 

I  left  them  free  to  choose  whether  to  remain  or 
go.  They  preferred  to  stay:  It  was  but  a  little  while 
before  the  medium  entered  the  room,  when  he  at  once 
penetrated  the  disguises  of  these  poor  foolish  people, 
and  said  : 

"  Mr.  P.,  your  daughter  Minnie  is  beside  you.  She 
is  weeping  because  you  and  her  mother  are  in  dis- 
guise. She  says,  if  you  loved  her  as  much  as  you 
pretend  to  do,  you  would  not  be  ashamed  to  seek  her 
presence  with  an  open  face.  She  is  so  much  agitated 
that  she  can  not  write  to  you  to-day." 

These  people  threw  off  their  disguises,  and  the 
man  was  found  to  be  a  well-known  clergyman  in  Bos- 
ton, and  the  woman  was  his  wife.  They  turned  out 
to  be  very  genial  people,  but  lived  in  mortal  dread  of 
public  opinion.  The  next  day,  they  entered  the  re- 
ception-room with  the  assurance  of  well-bred  people, 
and  were  treated  with  the  respect  due  their  honesty, 
intelligence,  and  position,  and  received  satisfactory 
communications  from  their  daughter  and  other  mem- 
bers of  their  family  in  the  spirit-world. 

In  speaking  of  Mr.  Mansfield  as  **  penetrating  their 
disguises,"  I  wish  not  to  be  understood  as  intimating 
that  he  saw  through  the  obstructing  material  as  peo- 
ple ordinarily  see  by  the  use  of  their  natural  eyes ; 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


6S 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


but,  on  the  contrary,  it  is  the  clearly  perceiving  senses 
of  the  spirit  that  take  cognizance  of  facts  on  such  oc- 
casions and  lay  them  bare  to  the  bone.  In  the  in- 
stance before  us,  the  medium  was  instantly  endowed 
with  clear  hearing  and  clear  seeing ;  hence,  he  heard 
Minnie  speak,  as  well  as  beheld  her  beautiful  form 
bowed  with  grief  and  shame  in  the  presence  of  her 
insane  parents. 

It  is  needless  to  further  extend  my  observations 
on  this  wonderful  endowment  of  Mr.  Mansfield.  I 
studied  the  manifestations  of  his  power  for  several 
months,  and  under  the  best  of  circumstances  arrived 
at  safe  and  satisfactory  conclusions.  The  final  result 
was  in  the  thorough  conviction  of  my  mind  that  the 
spirit-world  was  as  real  as  the  natural ;  that  life  was 
as  much  individualized  there  as  here ;  and  that  death, 
like  its  twin-sister  sleep,  was  a  beautiful  ordinance  of 
nature,  into  whose  loving  embrace  we  could  yield  our 
spirit  as  confidingly  as  the  weary  child  sinks  to  repose 
upon  the  mother's  bosom. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  69 


CHAPTER  V. 

GUARD  AGAINST  IMPOSTURES— UNRELIABLE  MEDIUMS 
IN  THE  FIELD. 

npHERE  is  no  subject  to  which  the  investigating 
-*-  mind  can  be  invited  where  it  may  be  so  egre- 
giously  deceived  and  so  grossly  imposed  upon  as  that 
which  appertains  to  the  phenomena  of  spiritualism. 
He  who  undertakes  to  examine  it  critically,  must 
sharpen  his  wits,  and  not  be  overcredulous  to  believe, 
or  ready  to  indorse  as  gospel,  all  that  he  sees  and 
hears.  Without  intending  any  reproach  upon  the 
cause,  it  can  not  be  denied  that  a  majority  of  so- 
called  spiritual  media  are  either  rank  impostors,  or 
so  little  trustworthy  in  their  pretensions,  that  it  is 
best  always  to  be  on  your  guard  when  brought  in 
contact  with  them.  My  experience  with  this  class 
of  people  has  been  varied  and  extensive;  and  it 
may  be  doing  a  good  service  to^  the  reader,  though 
the  task  is.  as  unpleasant  as  it  is  thankless,  to  sam- 
ple the  mediums  who,  in  my  judgment,  have  given 
the  cause  of  spiritualism  more  discredit  than  all  its 
open  foes  have  done.  In  doing  this  work,  I  hope  I 
am  animated  by  a  truer  charity  than  that  which 
excuses  private  vice  at  the  expense  of  public  good. 

I  have  now  in  my  mind's  eye  a  large  number  of 
men  and  women  who  properly  deserve  animadversion. 

9 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


70  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

From  these  I  can  only  select  a  few,  as  my  space  is 
limited,  to  illustrate  the  character  of  this  pernicious 
mediumship.  They,  however,  as  already  stated,  will 
sample  the  whole. 

To  all  well-informed  spiritualists,  the  name  of  L. 
Judd  Pardee  is  quite  familiar.  He  was  what  is 
called  a  trance-speaker,  and  an  accredited  minister 
of  the  new  gospel  of  spiritualism.  I  met  this  gen- 
tleman in  the  early  period  of  my  investigations  of 
spiritualism,  and  formed  for  him  a  warm  personal 
attachment,  and  had  a  high  esteem  for  his  me- 
diumistic  powers.  By  birth  and  education,  he 
was  a  North  Carolinian,  though  I  never  met  him 
outside  of  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  well  known  to 
the  spiritualists,  among  whom  he  had  many  friends. 
Here  I  engaged  him  to  lecture  for  a  month,  and 
procured  for  him,  first,  Melodeon  Hall,  and  afterward 
the  Mechanics'  Institute.  I  was  at  the  time  serving 
as  president  of  the  spiritual  platform. 

Pardee,  at  that  time,  was  about  thirty-five  years 
old,  personally  about  medium  height,  with  a  delicate, 
almost  feminine,  physical  structure  and  voice.  In 
ordinary  conversation,  he  spoke  like  a  girl  just  en- 
tering her  "teens,"  not  a  romping  girl  either,  but 
one  of  the  timid  sort  that  are  still  led  by  mamma's 
apron-strings.  This  man  possessed  a  fine,  subtle, 
analytical  mind,  and,  when  on  the  rostrum,  a  voice 
of  almost  Websterian  compass,  with  which  he  could 
make  echoes  ring  and  electrify  the  hearer  in  every 
part  of  the  largest  hall. 

A  natural  metaphysician,  he  seemed  sometimes 
to   want   ballast    to   prevent   him   voyaging   in    mid- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  7 1 

air,  where  he  was  not  in  heaven,  and  yet  he  had  cut 
loose  from  earth.  He  was  a  good  reasoner,  and  could 
thrill  the  hearts  of  as  many  as  heard  him  with  delight. 
He  had  the  most  ready  command  of  language  I  ever 
knew  a  man  to  possess.  Words  and  phrases  were 
marshaled  as  playthings,  and,  in  their  gorgeous  dis- 
play, you  almost  forgot  their  mission.  He  chose 
them  more  for  their  musical  rhythm  than  their  sig- 
nification ;  and  yet  they  were  always  appropriately 
chosen  and  strongly  expressive  of  the  sense  intended. 
Pardee  was  a  most  interesting  conversationalist,  and 
had  a  very  retentive  and  compliant  memory. 

When  he  appeared  on  the  platform,  his  general 
mien  of  face  and  form  was  demure.  His  dark-blue 
eyes  could  scarcely  be  seen  under  the  long  pale 
lashes.  He  covered  his  face  with  his  right-hand,  as 
he  sat  for  a  few  minutes  before  speaking,  as  preachers 
do  when  they  enter  the  pulpit.  Look  at  the  man 
closely,  and  you  will  see  his  shoulders  shrugging  a 
kind  of  a  twitch,  as  if  a  wheat-head  had  got  down  his 
back ;  and  then  he  sits  upright,  and  passes  his  hand 
over  his  forehead,  first  to  the  right,  then  to  the  left. 
His  eyes  are  now  tightly  closed,  and,  after  oscillating, 
as  it  were,  upon  the  extremity  of  his  spinal  column 
for  a  moment  or  two,  he  takes  a  deep  inspiration, 
when  he  is  said  to  be  entranced.  In  other  words, 
Pardee  has  vacated  his  body;  and  the  implication  is, 
that  the  spirit  of  Saul,  Socrates,  Demosthenes,  or 
the  Nazarene,  has  taken  possession  of  it.  Gudgeons 
are  supposed  to  believe  this. 

The  medium  being  entranced,  all  is  hushed  into  a 
death-like  stillness,  that  the  first  faint  sound  from  his 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


72  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

inspired  lips  may  be  heard.  His  words  are  soft  and 
low,  like  the  ripple  of  waters  along  a  meadow-bank,  and 
musical  as  the  first  carol  of  a  Spring  bird.  Gradually 
they  increase  in  power  and  force,  until  that  frail,  deli- 
cate form  seems  to.  dilate  with  strength,  and  become 
invested  with  a  mantle  of  grandeur  or  a  kingly  robe. 
He  rides,  as  it  were,  iii  a  chariot  of  flame,  leading  cap- 
tive the  hinds  who  listen  to  his  majestic  eloquence. 
He  stretches  forth  his  hand,  as  a  king  his  scepter, 
and  all  hearts  acknowledge  the  mastery  of  the  man. 

No  word-painting  can  do  justice  to  Pardee's  style, 
and  delivery  of  his  impassioned  thought.  He  must 
be  seen  and  heard  to  affix  his  image  forever  in  your 
memory.  But  here  commences  our  humiliation. 
After  the  storm  has  passed,  this  man  feigns,  to  be 
unconscious  of  the  power  he  has  displayed.  After 
swaying  a  multitude  for  two  hours,  at  the  caprice  of 
his  will,  he  pretends  to  know  not  any  thing  of  what 
he  has  done.  Out  upon  this  hypocrisy  !  Unconscious, 
indeed!  Why,  see  how  "a  plain,  unvarnished"  state- 
ment of  facts  will  put  to  blush  this  glaring  false- 
hood! 

In  the  Summer  of  1864,  Pardee  was  recuperating 
his  wasted  energies  in  the  vicinity  of  Patriot,  Indiana.. 
While  there,  he  prepared  a  half-dozen  or  more  lec- 
tures, which  he  designed  delivering  during  the  Fall 
and  Winter  campaign.  These  he  submitted  to  my 
inspection  from  time  to  time,  while  in  course  of  prep- 
aration, and  solicited  for  them  a  free  and  impartial 
criticism.  Some  of  my  suggestions  were  accepted, 
and  incorporated  into  the  body  of  the  lectures.  After 
their  completion,  he  asked  -  my  assistaace  in  the  prOf 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN-  SPIRITUALISM,  73 

curement  of  a  suitable  place  for  their  delivery  in  this 
city,  during  the  hot  season,  as  his  finances  were  low. 
This  I  did,  and  advertised  Greenwood  Hall  as  the 
place,  and  invited  the  attention  of  the  public  to  the 
intellectual  feast  in  store  for  them  ;  for  I  knew  pre- 
cisely what  I  was  promising. 

A  few  days  previous  to  the  lecturing  time,  Pardee 
came  to  my  house  as  my  guest.  He  and  I  again 
looked  over  the  manuscript  of  his  lectures,  as  crit- 
jcally  as  I  was  capable  of  doing.  I  do  not  claim  any 
merit  for  the  suggestions  I  made;  but  I  simply  wish 
to  show  that  the'  lectures  were  carefully  prepared  and 
maturely  considered  before  they  were  delivered.  Now, 
see  what  follows. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  delivery  of  the  first  lec- 
ture, being  a  Sunday  morning,  I  accompanied  Pardee 
to  the  hall,  and  acted  as  chairman  of  the  meeting. 
At  the  proper  time,  I  made  some  introductory 
remarks,  and  presented  the  lecturer  to  his  audience. 

I,  of  course,  expected  Pardee  to  read  his  lecture, 
or  speak  with  his  manuscript  before  him.  Such  was 
not  the  case.  Having  advanced  to  the  speaker's  posi- 
tion, he  sat  down  on  a  chair,  and  then  went  through 
the  flummery  of  entrancement,  as  already  described. 
He  then  spoke  an  hour;  and  I  followed  the  lecture 
with  the  closest  attention,  as  I  was  familiar  with 
every  part  of  it.  My  object  was  to  see  how  close  to 
the  text  he  adhered.  He  was  scrupulously  exact  in 
every  word,  so  far  as  my  memory  bore  its  attesta- 
tion. I  have  a  friend  who,  when  she  desires  to 
express  her  admiration  for  any  thing,  exclaims,  '*Is  n  't 
it  lovely?  is  n't  it  perfectly  splendid.?"     Some  such 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


74  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

adjectives  I  found  myself  repeating  at  the  conclusion 
of  Pardee^s  masterly  speech.  I  was  the  first  to  take 
his  hand  and  congratulate  him  on  his  fine  effort ;  the 
audience  thronged  around  him  for  the  same  purpose, 
animated  by  a  similar  feeling  of  respect  and  admi- 
ration for  the  man. 

Among  those  who  took  his  hand  was  an  old  spir- 
itualist, who  claimed  to  be  a  seer,  or  clairvoyant.  He 
said  to  the  speaker :  ''  Pardee,  do  you  know  who  it 
was  that  spoke  through  you  '>  I  could  see  his  form, 
but  could  not  distinguish  his  face.*' 

''I  think  it  was  the  Nazarene,"  said  Pardee,  ''or 
John  the  Baptist;  both  have  been  with  me  a  great 
deal  of  late.  Their  influences  are  very  similar,  and 
I  can't  tell  which  of  them  spoke/' 

I  thought  he  was  joking  at  first ;  but,  after  looking 
him  directly  in  the  eyes,  I  could  detect  no  lambent 
evidence  of  humor  in  them.  He  was  in  square  earnest. 
I  felt  like  asking  him,  ''Do  you  know  who  you  are 
talking  to.?"  But  I  was  powerless  for  speech  or  action. 
The  fellow's  impudence  was  as  sublime  as  his  elo- 
quence ;  and  for  both,  to  this  day,  I  have  a  profound 
admiration.  He  was  as  cool  in  his  utterance  of  this 
falsehood  as  a  "  polar  wave,"  and  his  face  was  as  im- 
perturbable as  a  lying  horse-jockey's.  He  deserved  to 
be  blowed  ;  but  I  could  n't  do  it.  I  was  too  weak  for 
the  effort. 

But  why  expose  Pardee,  and  let  the  other  thirty 
thousand  privileged  rascals  go  scot-free,  who  prac- 
tice their  impositions,  every  day  in  the  week,  upon  a 
credulous  world  ,?  "  No,"  I  said  ;  "  Pardee  is  no  worse 
than  the  rest  of  them,  and  all  I  blame  him  for  is,  that 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  75 

he  is  not  better/'  An  entranced  speaker  should  be 
better  than  an  orthodox  preacher;  but,  alas!  I  fear  he 
is  not.  I  wish  those  gentlemen  all  would  speak  the 
truth,  when  it  is  even  more  fitting  than  a  falsehood. 
We  owe  something,  surely,  to  the  dignity  of  human 
nature,  even  should  we  lose  sight  of  self-respect 
entirely. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  I  have  but  little 
confidence  in  the  pretensions  of  trance-speakers.  As 
a  class,  in  this  respect,  they  are  not  reliable.  I  have 
heard  the  best  of  them,  and  rarely  have  I  listened  to 
their  utterances  under  the  so-called  divine  afflatus, 
that  excelled  in  thought  the  mental  births  of  their 
normal  conditions. 

Among  this  class,  few  have  attained  more  distinc- 
tion for  their  eloquence  than  Miss  Emma  Hardinge. 
This  woman  has  great  power  on  the  rostrum  ;  all  who 
have  heard  her  will  admit  this.  But  she  is  a  woman 
of  fine  education  and  superior  culture.  As  an  elo- 
cutionist, she  had  distinction  before  she  became  a 
speaker  on  the  spiritual  platform.  In  her  social  rela- 
tions, her  conversational  powers  are  quite  equal  to  any 
of  her  forensic  efforts.  Then,  why  does  she  speak 
with  that  repulsive,  staring  entrancement }  It  is  a 
sham,  and  ought  to  be  abated. 

And  there,  too,  is  Mr.  Thomas  Gales  Forster,  who 
will  persist  in  shutting  his  eyes,  and  shaking  himself 
out  of  his  "  seven-league  boots,"  that  Dr.  Dayton  may 
step  into  them  and  make  a  speech  in  his  absence. 
Now,  this  is  all  nonsense;  and  it's  high  time  that  this 
silly  custom  should  be  honored  in  the  breach,  Mr, 
Forster  is  not  only  a  man  of  fine  education,  but  he  is 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


j6  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"well-read"  in  the  legitimate  sense  of  the  term;  that 
is,  gives  a  thoughtful  digestion  to  every  thing  he 
reads.  His  memory  is  wonderful,  and  never  fails  to 
supply  data,  when  required  to  elucidate  a  point  or 
fortify  an  argument.  He  is  not  a  ready  debater,  ow- 
ing to  the  detestable  habit  of  speaking  with  his  eyes 
closed  ;  but  he  is  always  massive  in  argument,  and 
solid  in  fact.  As  a  speaker,  he  is  more  logical  than 
Clay,  and  but  little  less  ponderous  and  weighty  than 
Webster.  His  blows  are  heavy  and  slow,  but  they 
tell  every  time  on  his  subject.  Rather  sluggish  in 
his  intellectual  habit,  he  requires  an  occasion  to  de- 
velop his  strength.  He  is  familiar  with  the  classics, 
and  has  read  Scripture  to  some  purpose,  as  he  ex- 
hibits upon  suitable  occasions  an  intimate  knowledge 
of  the  Sacred  Writings,  even  such  as  the  most  learned 
commentators  might  aspire  to  emulate.  In  discourse, 
he  is  as  prolific  of  Scripture  texts  as  a  jockey  is  of 
horse-stable  slang ;  but  why  he  will  shut  his  eyes 
a7td  chew  tobacco  when  he  quotes  from  the  Bible,  is 
to  me  as  much  a  mystery  as  the  profligate  assump- 
tion of  the  departed  Pardee.  But,  ''suns  cniqite  mos!' 
Another  of  the  able  speakers  on  the  harmonial 
platform,  who  has  fallen  into  the  silly  habit  of  en- 
trancement,  before  she  will  consent  to  utter  her  own 
brave  thoughts  in  her  own  brave  words,  is  Miss  Liz- 
zie Doten,  one  of  New  England's  most  accomplished 
women.  This  lady  is  a  fine  intuitionalist,  and  grasps 
the  subtler  truths  of  the  Great  Harmonia  with  the 
power  of  a  master's  mind,  and  weaves  them  into  a 
fadeless  wreath  of  song.  The  fiber  of  this  woman's 
brain  is  akin  to  that  of  Emerson  and  Holmes.     She 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  J7 

crystallizes  her  thoughts,  and  utters  them  with  an 
energy  that  makes  them  cut  their  way  into  the  un- 
derstanding of  men.  In  her  poetry  she  embodies  her 
highest  truths.  Then,  if  ever,  she  "cuts  loose  from 
the  mooring  of  reason,"  to  float  at  random  along 
the  glowing  stream  of  her  inspiration.  Then,  like 
a  musical  swan,  she  sings  as  she  floats  adown  the 
river  of  harmony,  and  celebrates  the  real  and  ideal 
in  her  wedded  verse.  But  why  mar  this  picture, 
Lizzie  Doten,  by  playing  ** bo-peep"  with  your  staring 
auditors .?  You  can  write  as  good  sentiment  as  you 
can  speaky  and  your  own  style  and  composition  are 
not  inferior  in  fervor  or  eloquence  to  those  which 
are  falsely  ascribed  to  the  lamented  Poe.  Remember 
that  the  suppression  of  a  truth  is  the  suggestion  of  a 
falsehood. 

It  is  not  necessary,  I  hope,  to  extend  the  list  of 
trance-speakers,  to  show  my  reprobation  of  the  ''shut- 
eye"  habit.  I  want  to  look  my  educator  in  the  eye; 
then  I  can  tell  whether  he  is  honest  and  in  earnest. 
It  is  the  organ  of  a  language  that  is  always  truthful. 

I  have  now  to  deal  with  three  or  four  derelicts  of 
a  less  dignified  character  than  those  I  have  already 
introduced  to  the  reader.  They  command  attention 
simply  because  they  assume  to  be  shepherds  over 
spiritual  flocks,  and  cling  to  spiritualism  as  barnacles 
to  a  ship  or  fungi  to  a  rock. 

The  first  of  these  is  a  man  well  known,  far  and 
wide,  as  the  leader  of  a  movement  that  has  its  founda- 
tion in  selfishness  and  dishonesty.  Mr.  yohn  M, 
Speer  will  be  at  once  recognized  as  the  one  of  whom  I 
intend  to  speak.    He  is  a  professed  spiritualist,  and  a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


^S  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

trance-medium  for  a  specific  work.  This  man  has 
the  craft  and  cunning  of  an  Indian  in  his  nature,  and 
I  would  as  soon  trust  a  Modoc  or  Kickapoo  with  my 
reputation,  my  fortune,  or  my  life,  as  this  gypsy 
leader.  When  this  man  makes  overtures,  reject  them 
as  a  rule.     He  does  not  mean  well  by  you. 

John  M.  Speer  is  an  enigma  to  most  people.  If 
he  were  not  a  trance-medium,  he  would  be  an  enigma 
to  none.  Under  this  garb,  he  concocts  and  conceals 
his  real  purposes.  He  has  dubbed  himself  a  mis- 
sionary for  the  upbuilding  of  a  new  government ;  and 
for  the  attainment  of  this  object,  he  wanders  over  the 
country,  in  Europe  and  America,  to  consecrate  (i*) 
men  and  women  to  this  new  work.  He  is  generally 
accompanied  by  his  "second  wife,'^  who  acts  as  his 
amanuensis,  and  two  or  three  of  the  "faithful,"  who 
have  deserted  their  homes  to  share  their  fortunes  with 
this  infatuated  old  man. 

I  had  heard  much  of  this  infatuated  party,  of  their 
Unitary  Home  movement  at  Kyantone,  and  their  wan- 
dering o'er  a  foreign  strand,  but  never  met  them  until 
they  floated  to  the  levee  at  Cincinnati,  in  a  flat-boat ; 
I  think,  in  1859.  That  was  a  sight  worth  seeing,  as 
it  taught  me  a  lesson  I  shall  never  forget — this 
huddle  of  world-reformers  (i*),  living  in  a  sensual 
sty  of  filth  and  degrading  familiarity,  houseless  and 
homeless.  What  a  commentary  upon  their  move- 
ment !  But  let  us  look  at  the  work  they  propose  to 
accomplish. 

The  form  of  government  Speer  seeks  to  establish, 
differs  from  any  known  to  exist  on  the  earth,  except- 
ing it  be  in  Utah,  though  it  is  claimed  to  have  its 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  79 

counterpart  in  the  spirit-world.  Its  executive  is  to 
be  a  theocrat,  in  whom  is  centered  all  social,  civil, 
and  ecclesiastical  power.  John  M.  Speer  is,  of  course, 
to  be,/^r  excellefice,  the  Theocrat,  This  is  not  all  there 
is  of  it ;  but  is  n't  it  enough  1  The  smell  of  Limburg 
cheese  ought  to  satisfy  a  dainty  stomach.  You  can 
best  detect  its  quality  by  sample. 

The  method  of  winning  converts  to  this  movement 
of  Speer  is  worthy  of  notice.  Some  of  his  party 
"spot"  their  man,  or  woman,  generally  from  among 
the  crazy  sort  of  spiritualists.  An  interview  is  man- 
aged, and  brought  about,  between  the  victim  for 
"consecration"  and  the  theocrat.  The  object  is 
not  stated  or  hinted  to  the  candidate.  Such  persons 
generally  have  means,  or  something  else  that  can  be 
made  useful  in  the  new  work — all  of  which  belongs  to 
the  theocrat,  of  course,  as  soon  as  you  admit  his 
authority.  It  is  arranged  to  meet  at  the  boat  or  some 
private  house  to  spend  the  evening.  A  free,  glib 
talk  about  matters  and  things  in  general  is  indulged 
in,  when  you  are  surprised  by  a  sudden  reticence  of 
the  Speer  party.  They  all  reverently  look  at  the 
theocrat,  who  has  shut  up  his  eyes,  a  la  Pardee,  and 
vermiculates  his  long  spinal  column,  like  a  boa-con- 
strictor preparing  to  strike  a  calf.  Of  course,  his 
victim  sits  quiet,  though  an  interested  spectator  of 
all  this  flummery.  The  moment  for  something  to 
"turn  up"  arrives,  when  Speer  begins  to  mumble 
something  which  can  only  be  understood  by  "  Carrie," 
his  second  wife.  You  now  begin  to  wonder  what 
the  "Old  Scratch"  is  driving  at  Carrie  is  saving 
every  word  that  falls  from  his  oracular  lips,  and  rap- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


So  STARTLING  FACTS  //V 

idly  puts  them  in  phonetic  characters.  The  light  of 
-the  room  is  en  sombre,  and  the  voice  of  the  old  man 
sepulchral.  The  solemnity  of  the  occasion  becomes 
oppressive,  and  you  feel  that  the  tomb  of  the  Cap- 
ulets  would  be  a  frisky  place  beside  the  presence 
of  this  old  mortality.  The  great  high-priest  now 
steps  forward,  and,  without  as  much  as  saying,  ''By 
your  leave,  sir,"  places  his  hand  on  your  head.  It  is 
a  harsh,  bony  hand,  that  rattles  o'er  your  bumps  like 
the  digits  of  an  Egyptian  mummy.  Then  you  have 
something  like  this,  spoken  in  mobbled  accents: 

**  To  this  great  work  do  I  consecrate  thee,  and 
thy  title  shall  be  recorded  as  ^  the  projector!  Your 
business  will  be  to  provide  a  home  for  the  wandering 
members  of  the  New  Covenant,  to  furnish  it  com- 
fortably, and  to  stock  it  well  with  '  good  wittles.* 
You  will  find  a  house  on  Arch  Street,  No.  i6,  that 
will  answer  the  purpose  '  werry  welT  for  the  present, 
until  you  can  provide  more  comfortable  quarters. 
Write  out  the  projector's  commission,  Carrie  ;  write  it 
down  my  dear,  devoted  second  wife,  and  mother  of 
my  child,  the  embryo  of  'the  coming  man;'  write  it, 
and  give  it  to  the  doctor,  and  he  will  pay  you  two 
dollars  and  sixty-five  cents  for  the  commission,  on 
delivery  of  the  goods.     Amen." 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  knavish  ceremony,  "  the 
theocrat"  opened  his  eyes,  when  I  was  congratulated 
by  the  several  members  of  the  government  on  my 
admission  to  their  emasculated  phalanx.  I  have  given 
the  substance  of  Speer's  charge,  though  not  in  his 
exact  words. 

Up  to  this  time  I,  of  course,  treated  the  whole 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  %l 

thing  as  a  joke ;  but  when  poor  Sheldon  came  the  next 
day  to  see  me  in  regard  to  making  provision  for  the 
party,  I  began  to  understand  the  true  character  of 
John  M.  Speer.  Sheldon  was  broken  in  health — in 
the  last  stage  of  pulmonary  disease — and  when  I 
began  to  realize  how  his  confiding  nature  had  been 
abused,  I  became  indignant  at  the  outrage.  The  man 
was  tired— spitting  his  life  away — and  only  needed  a 
place  of  comfort  to  rest  and  die.  As  I  looked  into 
his  large  lustrous  eyes,  sunken  deep  in  their  orbits, 
I  said  : 

'*  Sheldon,  when  the  spirits  controlling  John  M. 
Speer  shall  *  project'  the  means  necessary  to  provide 
a  home  for  the  new  government,  I  may  then  think  of 
becoming  their  agent  in  this  matter;  but  neither  you 
nor  I  will  live,  I  hope,  to  see  this  vagary  of  Speer's 
assume  any  greater  proportions  than  it  at  present 
presents.  This  is  a  cruel  joke  on  you.  This  man 
has  separated  your  family,  destroyed  your  home,  and 
squandered  your  means.  He  will  soon  desert  you,  as 
you  have  nothing  left  to  excite  his  cupidity,  and 
leave  you  broken  in  health,  mortified  in  spirit,  a 
friendless  man,  the  toy  of  poverty,  and  a  victim  of 
want.  Why  not  see  this  man's  true  character  t  In 
holy  phrases  he  transacts  his  villainies,  and  steals  the 
livery  of  the  court  of  heaven  to  serve  his  evil  ends.* 

^■A  somewhat  similar  character  to  tliis  man  Speer  is  found  in 
another  professing  trance-speaking  spiritualist  by  the  name  of  Chauncey 
*****.  This  fellow  perambulates  the  country  like  a  vagabond,  bil- 
leting himself  wherever  he  can  find  people  foolish  enough  to  enter- 
tain him.  He  attends  all  conventions  and  meetings  of  the  spiritualists 
of  America  wherever  there  is  a  chance  for  a  free  feast  or  a  free  blow, 
and  always  manages  to  make  himself  heard.  At  one  of  these  irre- 
sponsible meetings,  recently  held  in  Cincinnati,  to  which  he  was  a  self- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


32  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Do  you  see  what  a  tool  he  would  make  of  me  ?  He 
would  squander  my  means,  as  he  has  yours,  and  then 
seek  other  dupes  to  rob.  It  is  time  you  should  quit 
the  presence  of  this  old,  bad  man!" 

My  admonition  came  too  late  for  any  retraction  of 
error  into  which  the  dying  man  had  fallen.  His 
strength  of  body  and  brain  had  departed,  and  he  was 
as  helpless  in  the  power  of  John  M.  Speer  as  a  child 
in  the  grasp  of  a  giant. 

For  myself,  I  took  a  soap-bath,  and  washed  my 
head  free  from  the  vile  contact  of  this  old  man.  But, 
alas!  poor  human  nature! — there  are  those  who  are 
weak  enough  to  think  his  hands  possess  the  virtue 
of  consecration.  Thousands  and  tens  of  thousands, 
if  I  have  been  correctly  informed,  have  submitted 
to  the  imposition  of  these  hands,  as  if  they  were 
immaculately  pure,  and  not  as  sordid  as  Iscariot's. 
I  have  seen  his  commissions  copied  on  parchment, 
and  beautifully  framed,  suspended  upon  the  walls  of 

accredited  member,  be  visited  my  house  to  "bum."  To  get  clear  of  the 
nuisance,  I  gave  him  money  to  pay  his  hotel-bill  for  two  days.  Never- 
theless, he  managed  to  visit  me  most  regularly  about  dinner  and  tea 
time.  Being  seated  at  my  table  when  he  last  called,  he  was  permit- 
ted to  sit  in  the  parlor  until  dinner  was  over.  Receiving  no  invitation 
to  dine,  he  retired  from  the  house  while  we  were  sitting  dt  dinner,  and 
left  as  rascally  a  looking  old  weather-worn  and  sweat-bleached  plug- 
hat  on  my  piano  as  ever  graced  the  graceless  head  of  a  loafer.  A  new 
seven-dollar  silk  hat,  one  of  David  Baker's  best,  with  all  the  luster  of 
newness,  and  free  from  taint  or  smell,  was  taken  in  its  stead.  This 
fellow  has  since  written  me  a  characteristic  letter,  in  which  he  justifies 
his  larceny  by  the  following  plea:  "It  was  the  spirits  that  tuck  your 
hat,  and  they  would  not  alow  it  to  be  tuck  back.  I  am  the  chosen 
one  of  the  Lord,  and  all  things  belong  to  Me  and  him."  How  very 
like  the  argument  of  the  tithing  priest  is  this — only  more  lawyer- 
like ! 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  83 

comfortably  furnished  parlors,  in  the  New  England 
States.  How  long  will  men  make  monkeys  of  them- 
selves ? 

I  am  not  in  sympathy  with  shams,  tricksters,  or 
sycophants.  Time-servers  will  find  no  friendly  office 
at  my  hands.  Spiritualism  presents  itself  to  my  mind 
as  the  grandest  revelation  of  truth  vouchsafed  to  mod- 
ern times.  Its  advent  constitutes  a  new  hope  and  a 
new  era  for  the  world.  It  embodies  a  religious 
thought  that  will  ultimately  pervade  the  minds  of  all 
men,  and  redeem  the  world  from  the  error  and  wrong 
under  which  it  has  long  suffered.  Millions  will  de- 
fend it,  when  its  teachings  and  its  authority  are  better 
understood.  Impostors  may  retard  its  advent  and 
tarnish  its  fair  name;  but  it  will  at  last  triumph  over 
all  opposing  conditions,  and  stand  before  mankind  as 
the  embodied  voice  of  God  to  the  human  race. 

Among  the  notable  expounders  of  the  new  gos- 
pel in  the  United  States,  Mr.  E.  V.  Wilson  occupies 
a  prominent  public  position.  Without  scholastic  at- 
tainments, he  is,  nevertheless,  hard-sensed,  and,  like 
Warren  Chase,  an  able  debater  of  the  harmonial 
philosophy.  He  is,  physically,  an  athlete,  and  pos- 
sesses that  courage  which  is  found  peculiar  to  high 
muscular  development.  So  far,  so  good.  I  believe 
he  does  not  classify  himself  among  the  entranced 
speakers,  but  claims  to  be  a  seer  and  clairaudient. 
In  the  exercise  of  these  latter  functions,  I  take  my 
exceptions  to  the  man  as  a  reliable  medium. 

It  is  his  custom,  after  or  during  the  delivery  of  a 
lecture,  to  make  some  startling  announcement  of  what 
he  sees  and  hears   that   is  not   appreciable  to   ordi- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


84  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

nary  senses.  In  this  way  he  has  singled  me  out,  on 
several  occasions,  as  being  accompanied  by  a  spirit, 
who  says :  "  My  name  is  ;  I  was  your  com- 
panion and  friend  when  you  were  secretary  to  Mr. 
Buchanan,  in  the  White  House,  at  Washington.  We 
had  many  *  good  times'  together."  Mr.  Wilson  has 
repeated  this  story  twice  before  public  audiences,  and 
I  can  only  say  it  is  false.  At  one  time  I  did  writing 
for  Mr.  Buchanan,  at  Wheatland,  but  only  as  an  as- 
sisting friend,  not  as  a  hireling,  or  paid  secretary.  In 
an  easy  conversation,  I  told  Wilson  this,  some  time 
prior  to  his  first  public  announcement  of  the  fact;  but 
the  fellow  got  it  crosswise  in  his  head,  and  so  he  con- 
tinues to  blunder  over  it.  But  a  still  more  glaring 
testimony  of  the  unreliability  of  his  seership  was 
elicited  by  his  announcement,  before  a  public  audience, 
of  the  spirit  of  a  man  who  was  supposed  to  be  dead, 
but  had  not,  as  yet,  shuffled  off  his  mortal  coil.  He 
said,  "  I  see  before  me  the  spirit  of  a  man  who  says 
his  body  is  near  Madison,  Indiana,  in  the  Ohio  River, 
and  he  gives  me  the  name  of  Professor  Wm.  Holt." 

"Just  as  I  thought!"  exclaimed  a  number  of  per- 
sons who  knew  the  professor.  *'  Poor  fellow !  he  didn't 
seem  to  get  along  well,  and  so  he  drowned  himself." 

To  understand  the  value  of  this  test  of  Wilson's 
seership  and  clairaudient  powers,  it  is  necessary  to 
make  some  explanation.  Just  before  the  startling, 
announcement  was  made,  Professor  Holt  left  Cincin- 
nati in  a  manner  peculiar  to  himself,  without  advis- 
ing any  of  his  friends  of  his  purpose.  For  several 
weeks  no  word  or  clew  to  his  whereabouts  could  be 
obtained,  and  the  apprehension  of  his  friends  was, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  85 

that  he  had  become  tired  of  existence  and  had  thrown 
his  life  away  in  the  river.  This  was  talked  freely  in 
the  presence  of  Wilson,  and  hence  this  manifestation 
of  his  seership,  etc.  Now  for  the  sequel  to  all  this. 
About  six  weeks  after  the  public  mind  had  settled 
into  the  conviction  that  the  body  of  Holt  would  never 
again  be  seen,  only  in  its  revised  condition  as  catfish 
or  buffalo,  upon  our  breakfast-table,  lo  and  behold  ! 
Micawber-like,  he  turns  up  in  St.  Louis,  sprightly  as 
a  cricket,  with  not  a  scale  or  smell  of  a  fish  about 
him.  But  what  of  all  this.?  Why,  simply,  that  Wil- 
son's seership  is  a  fraud,  and  his  clear-hearing  is  no 
better.  As  to  whether  he  is  self-deceived,  or  is  un- 
scrupulously deceiving  others,  the  candid  reader  must 
decide  for  himself.  It  is  obvious  to  every  intelligent 
mind,  however,  that  spiritualism  is  brought  into  un- 
deserved reproach  by  the  conduct  of  such  charlatans, 

A  milder  and  less  pernicious  form  of  imposture 
is  practiced  by  your  impressible  mediums,  which  may, 
as  well  as  not,  be  ventilated  in  this  place.  The  fol- 
lowing case  will  serve  as  an  example  : 

When  an  inmate  of  Mr.  Mansfield's  house,  one 
of  the  genus  impressible  shared  his  hospitality,  like 
myself.  She  had  come  from  a  distance — even  from 
Buffalo,  NeviT  York — and  was  a  lady  of  education, 
means,  and  good  social  position,  enjoying  the  per- 
sonal esteem  of  President  Fillmore  and  his  family. 
All  this,  one  would  suppose,  should  have  protected 
the  lady  from  the  folly  of  impressible  mediumship, 
but  it  did  not;  so  she  declared,  without  reserve,  her 
possession  of  wonderful  powers  in  that  line  of  busi- 
ness, and  came  on   partly   to   make   Mr.    Mansfield's 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


86  STARTLING  FA  CIS  IN 

family  a  social  visit,  and  partly  to  illustrate  to  him 
and  others  her  extraordinary  endowment.  Her  infat- 
uation was  complete. 

As  I  had  no  confidence  in  the  thing,  but  not 
doubting  the  woman's  integrity,  I  took  no  interest  in 
the  matter.  I  studiously  avoided  speaking  on  the 
subject,  and  evaded  all  remarks  that  would  lead  to 
its  discussion.  But  all  the  precautions  I  could  use 
would  not  suffice.  I  was  cornered,  and  compelled 
to  make  a  trial  of  her  powers.  The  manner  was 
some  like  that  of  testing  Mr.  Mansfield.  I  was  re- 
quested to  write  my  thought,  and  await  the  reply  as 
it  came  written  through  the  medium's  hand  by  im- 
pression.    My  first  efibrt  was  as  follows  : 

''Mr.  Samuel  Patch,— Putty  is  rising.  If  you  want  any 
for  skylight  purposes,  remit  your  order  tlirough  the  medium  at 
your  earhest  leisure,  and  oblige,  Yours,  etc." 

This  plain  business  note  I  inclosed  in  a  buff  en- 
velope, and  laid  it  before  the  impressible  medium.  It 
was  not  long  before  the  wanted  impression  arrived,  as 
it  was  announced  in  straggling  pencil  scrawls  over  a 
page  of  foolscap,  and  somewhat  thusly  it  read  : 

"Dear  Brother,— You  are  exactly  right.  The  same 
causes  will  produce  uniform  results.  Do  not  let  your  heart 
fail  you,  for  you  must  surely  succeed.  Persevere  to  the  end. 
Nature  is  boundless  in  her  resources,  and  she  never  fails  to 
supply  every  reasonable  demand.  You  must  work  for  the 
grand  result.  Nothing  is  attained  that  is  worth  the  possessing, 
without  labor.  Do  not  become  discouraged.  All  great  enter- 
prises are  difficult  to  accomplish.  Achievement  and  push  are 
twin-brothers.     I  am  with  you  to  the  end." 

There  was  a  ''goody"  in  this  communication 
which  commanded  my  respect ;  but  I  confess  I  could 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  Zj 

not  see  its  pertinency  to  my  plain,  matter-of-fact  busi- 
ness note.  There  was  no  allusion  to  putty,  excepting 
where  it  is  said,  "Nature  is  boundless  in  her  re- 
sources, and  she  never  fails  to  supply  any  reasonable 
demand."  Putty  may  have  been  alluded  to  in  her 
"boundless  resources,"  but  the  construction  was  not 
satisfactory.  I  was  a  trifle  confused,  and  I  suppose 
the  medium  was  impressed  to  ask  me,  "How  do  you 
like  it?" 

This  question  was  a  relief  to  my  mind ;  for  I  con- 
fess to  a  great  perplexity  as  to  what  I  should  say  to 
the  woman.  It  gave  direction  to  my  thought.  I  said, 
"  Madam,  this  \^  marvelous  ;  there  is  a  trifling  ambi- 
guity I  should  like  to  have  cleared  up.  Will  you  try 
again,  if  I  write  another  note  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  she  said,  with  a  simper  of  satisfac- 
tion ;  "  it  always  is  a  pleasure  to  write  for  my  friends. 
We  should  assist  each  other  to  the  extent  of  our 
ability." 

"You  are  very  kind.  I  will  be  brief,  that  neither 
your  time  nor  strength  shall  be  unduly  taxed.  Such 
efforts  must  be  very  exhausting  upon  your  vital  re- 
sources," 

I  hastily  wrote : 

*'  Samuel, — Am  I  to  understand  that  you  will  get  your  sup- 
ply of  putty  for  skylight  purposes  from  the  boundless  resources 
of  nature,  and  not  from  me  ?  My  heart  does  fail  me,  if  I  read 
you  aright.  In  vain  you  teil  me,  'Achievement  and  push  are 
twin-brothers.'  What  has  that  to  do  with  putty?  I  know 
very  well  that  nothing  is  attained  without  labor  ;  but,  my  dear 
sir,  have  n't  I  labored  ?  You  discourage  me.  Can  you  not  give 
me  a  word  of  encouragement  by  ordering  a  few  pounds  of  prime 
No.  I  skylight  putty  through  this  medium  ? 
"Yours,  etc." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


SS  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

This  note  was  inclosed,  as  the  first,  in  a  buff 
envelope,  and  laid  before  the  ''medium."  The  pen- 
cil was  soon  seized,  and  the  hand  was  nervously 
influenced  by  a  tea-drunken  brain  to  twitch,  dash, 
skip,  and  scrawl  in  a  most  bewildering  manner.  After 
some  painstaking  effort,  the  hieroglyphs  were  deci- 
phered to  convey  the  following  : 

"  Dear  Brother, — Go  ahead  !  You  are  on  the  right  track  ! 
Before  you  lies  the  royal  road  to  knowledge  !  Knowledge  is 
power!  Truth  is  the  Arcliimedean  lever  that  raises  the  world! 
Stand  firm,  and  be  steady  to  your  purpose  !  Do  not  doubt  suc- 
cess !  Trifles  may  intervene,  but  the  will  is  omnipotent  ! 
Faith  in  it  will  move  mountains  !  That  w))ich  is  most  valuable 
is  most  difficult  to  attain." 

In  neither  case  did  Samuel  attach  his  name  to 
the  reply  given  my  notes  ;  but  that  did  not  seem 
to  be  of  much  consequence,  as  he  assured  me  I  was 
''on  the  right  track."  He  was  not  He  studiously 
avoided  making  any  allusion  to  putty,  however;  and 
it  was  that  which  mystified  me.  ''Business  before 
pleasure,"  is  a  popular  maxim  among  men  with  "level 
heads  ;"  but  Samuel  did  not  seem  to  subscribe  to  the 
dogma  in  this  instance.  I  thanked  the  medium  for 
her  attention,  and  expressed  myself  as  quite  well  sat- 
isfied with  her  mediumship  and  the  tests  I  had  re- 
ceived. I  pocketed  the  notes  and  replies,  and  said 
nothing  more  at  the  time  to  any  one. 

After  a  few  days,  it  came  to  my  ears  that  the  "me- 
dium" was  exulting  over  the  fine  tests  she  had  given 
me, and  the  satisfaction  I  evinced  with  her  mediumship. 
Still  I  said  nothing.  At  last  Mr.  Mansfield  spoke  to 
me  of  the  tests  Mrs.  C.  had  given  me.  It  was  now 
time  to  correct  the  errors  into  which  these  reports 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  89 

had  led  several  well-meaning  people.  This  I  did  by 
simply  showing  Mr.  Mansfield  my  two  notes,  and  the 
replies  she  wrote.  I  thought  that  would  be  sufficient ; 
but  how  sadly  I  was  mistaken  !  Mansfield  told  the 
joke  to  his  wife,  who,  with  a  womanly  sympathy  for 
the  impressional  medium,  informed  her  of  the  facts 
of  the  case.  The  medium  became  exasperated,  and 
no  longer  called  me  ''dear  brother" — not  much  of 
any  thing  in  that  line.  I  walked  straight  for  several 
days,  but  it  was  of  no  use;  the  conflict  w^as  inevitable, 
and  it  burst  forth  at  the  breakfast-table.  I  had  been 
reading  the  Herald  of  Progj^ess,  and  Mr.  Mansfield 
said,  ''Any  thing  new  in  the  Herald  f 

"Mr.  Davis  disclaims  having  said,  at  any  time,"  I 
replied,  "that  there  were  three  hundred  people  in 
Buffalo  who  have  no  souls.  A  correspondent  asks 
him  whether  he  ever  made  such  a  declaration,  and 
he  says  he  never  did." 

"  Mr.  Davis  did  say  it,  and  he  need  not  deny  it. 
/  heard  him,''  said  our  putty  medium,  in  a  tone  that 
was  as  purely  personal  to  me  as  if  she  held  my  nose 
between  her  thumb  and  finger. 

I  could  not  escape  ;  her  beautiful  eyes  grew  brill- 
iant, not  with  love-light.  Still,  as  Sam  had  told  me 
to  "stand  firm  and  be  steady  to  my  purpose,"  I  re- 
plied, "But  Mr.  Davis  disclaims  having  said  any 
thing  of  the  kind  that  could  either  be  constructively 
or  otherwise  made  to  imply  such  a  declaration." 

"  Mr.  Davis  need  not  deny  that  which  can  be 
proved,"  said  "putty,"  with  an  acerbity  of  manner  I 
had  not  before  witnessed.  "  Either  he  tells  a  false- 
hood, or  I  do !" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


90 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


I  could  not  resist  the  opportunity,  and  I  beg  my 
reader  to  believe  that  it  was  with  no  feeling  of  exul- 
tation that  I  triumphed  over  my  fallen  foe.  It  was 
her  own  unruly  "  nag  "  that  placed  her  at  my  mercy. 
I  waited  a  moment,  but  she  was  too  proud  to  ask 
it.  I  looked  pityingly  at  the  fallen  medium,  but  met 
.  only  defiance  in  her  eye.  So,  as  a  coup  de  grace,  I 
said  sternly  and  deliberately,  "/  believe  Mr,  Davis!' 

That  settled  the  business  of  the  impressional  me- 
dium. Before  noon  she  got  an  impression  to  go 
home;  and  I  really  think,  if  spirits  ever  engaged  in 
such  pastimes,  that  they  came  to  Mrs.  C.'s  relief  upon 
this  occasion. 

Before  taking  leave  of  Boston  and  this  part  of  my 
subject,  I  must  pay  my  respects  to  Mrs.  Nelly,  a 
trance-personating  medium,  who  had  some  local  ce- 
lebrity at  the  time  I  was  seeking  for  *^more  light" 
on  the  subject  of  spiritualism. 

She  lived  in  a  fashionable  part  of  the  city,  in  good 
style,  and  her  house  was  frequented  by  many  persons, 
who,  like  myself,  were  interested  in  every  thing  per- 
taining to  the  new  religion.  I  found  Nelly  a  beautiful 
young  widow  of  several  years'  standing,  a  blonde,  with 
sparkling  blue  eyes,  and  a  mouth  full  of  delicately- 
formed  teeth,  as  pearl-like  as  could  be.  She  was 
about  medium  height,  and  no  longer  a  slender-waist 
girl.     Chatty  she  was,  and  full  of  delicious  small-talk. 

Nelly  s  controlling  spirit  was  represented  as  being 
an  Indian  girl,  whose  christened  name  was  Shanan- 
doah.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Powhatan,  and  sister- 
in-law  of  Captain  Smith,  who  so  far  forgot  the  dignity 
of  his  Saxon  blood,  and  the  odiousness  of  miscege- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  9 1 

nation  as  to  marry  her  eldest  sister,  Pocahontas.  This 
spirit  they  called  Shanny,  for  short. 

Her  habit  was  to  eject  Nelly  from  her  corporal 
dwelling,  and  take  possession  of  the  nest  herself. 
Then  she  would  cut  up  dido  in  high  Injun  style. 
She  would  squeal  and  dance  and  jabber  Injun  mag- 
nificently. When  a  real  good-looking,  manly  man  of 
a  marriageable  fellow  was  present,  Shanny  would 
make  love  to  him  straight,  in  the  most  unaboriginal 
fashion.  Nelly  being  absent,  she  could  take  many 
liberties  with  her  tenement,  to  which  Nelly,  I  think, 
would  have  objected,  had  she  been  present  and  mistress 
of  the  situation.  But,  then,  it  was  only  Shanny,  you 
know ;  and  she  was  only  a  pure,  simple-hearted  child 
of  nature,  and  did  n't  mean  any  thing.  I  sometimes 
thought  I  could  see  a  "lurking  devil"  in  Shanny's 
eye,  which  looked  so  much  like  Nelly's,  that  the  coin- 
cidence became  an  interesting  study.  The  upshot  of 
all  this  was,  that  Shanny  fell  desperately  in  love  with 
a  gentleman  of  our  party,  and  he  with  her.  They 
plighted  their  vows  of  constancy,  and,  of  course,  were 
married.  But  how,  you  will  ask,  can  a  spirit  marry 
a  mortal  1 

Certainly!  You  see,  Shanny  took  possession  of 
Nelly's  body,  after  serving  upon  her  an  act  of  eject- 
ment ;  and  possession  being  ''nine  points  in  law,"  Nelly 
was  left  out  in  the  cold.  Having  a  beautiful  form  at 
her  disposal,  in  which  she  could  entertain  her  friends 
as  she  felt  inclined,  she  stopped  playing  Injun,  and 
became  Mrs.  Nelly — but  I  forgot  myself — Mrs.  Shanny 
Jones,  quite  as  aristocratic  a  patronymic  as  Mrs.  Cap- 
tain   John    Smith.      Shanny    is    pleasantly    married, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


9^ 


Sl^ARTLING  FACTS  IN 


and  what  more  do  you  want  to  know  ?  She  fulfilled 
her  mission  as  a  trance-medium,  and  then  dropped 
out  of  sight. 

What  we  most  need  to  know  is  often  what  we 
most  dislike  to  hear;  but  those  who  are  hurt  by 
the  truth,  should  remember  the  proverb  which  says, 
*'  Faithful  are  the  wounds  of  a  friend." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  93 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  PHENOMENA—SPIRITUAL  PRIEST- 
CRAFT—DEATH—THE BODY— MRS.  MARY  J.  HOLLIS. 

SPIRITUAL  phenomena  addresses  itself  to  my 
mind  under  two  characteristic  heads ;  namely, 
physical  and  mentaL 

In  these  two  general  divisions  of  the  subject,  the 
whole  range  of  spiritual  manifestations  may  properly 
be  classed.  Under  the  first  head  we  put  table-tip- 
ping, spirit-rapping,  spirit-writing,  picture-drawing, 
the  movement  of  inert  bodies,  spirit-voices,  and  the 
materialization  of  heads,  faces,  bodies,  arms,  hands, 
clothing,  jewelry,  flowers,  fruits,  paintings,  the  trans- 
formation of  water,  the  dissipation  of  matter,  and  all 
other  phenomena  which  we  recognize  by  the  legiti- 
mate exercise  of  our  five  senses. 

Mental  phenomena  embrace  that  class  of  mani- 
festations which  can  only  be  exhibited  through  the 
mental  structure  of  man.  In  this  division  we  place 
psychometry,*  psychology,  clairlativeness,f  trance, 
somnambulism,  magnetic  exaltation,  phantasms,  sym- 
pathy, mental  impressibility,  catalepsy,  hysteria,  and 
religious  ecstasy. 

*  See  Denton's  work,  "  The  Soul  of  Things." 

tThis  is  the  new  word  employed  by  Mr.  Davis  as  a  substitute  for 
clairvoyance.  He  defines  it  in  his  autobiography—"  The  Magic  Staff" — > 
as  **the  clear  production  of  clairvoyance." 

II 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


94  STARTLING  FACTS  /A^ 

It  is  not  our  intention,  at  this  time,  to  speak 
more  particularly  of  these  varied  phases  of  spirit 
manifestations,  or  to  offer  any  special  plea  for  the 
recognition  of  the  genuineness  of  their  character. 
Such  service  must  be  performed  by  the  student  of 
mental  phenomena  when  he  is  brought  face  to  face 
with  the  facts.  When  these  occur,  he  must  engage 
his  own  logic  and  furnish  his  own  rhetoric  in  forming 
his  own  conclusion. 

The  object  of  my  writing  is  to  present  the  facts 
as  they  occurred  to  me  with  as  much  fidelity  as  I 
am  capable  of  doing,  leaving  them  to  the  judgment 
of  the  reader  on  their  own  distinctive  merits.  Let 
the  testimony  be  scrutinized,  analyzed,  and  sifted, 
until  the  truth  be  ascertained.  A  witness,  to  be  val- 
uable, should  have  knowledge  to  impart,  and  com- 
petence to  testify.  All  dross  must  be  purged  from 
the  pure  metal  before  its  intrinsic  worth  can  be 
ascertained. 

In  the  physical  department  of  the  spiritual  phe- 
nomena, the  course  of  investigation  is  beset  with  less 
difficulty  than  in  the  mental.  Herein  your  senses 
witness  the  facts,  after  which,  if  you  doubt  their 
testimony,  you  may  exercise  your  reasoning  facul- 
ties to  assist  you  to  arrive  at  other  conclusions.  But 
when  a  mental  manifestation  is  given,  you  have  no 
power  to  examine  its  claim  to  spirit-origin  but  through 
the  medium  of  the  mind,  which  rarely  acts  without  bias 
or  decides  without  prejudice.  It  is  not  worth  while  to 
higgle  at  the  truth,  that,  in  these  days  of  political 
depravity,  religious  bigotry,  and  loss  of  public  virtue, 
children    are   born   with   perverted    judgments ;    or, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  95 

if  not,  **  their  column  of  true  majesty"  is  warped  by 
educational  vices.  Pure  reason  is  seldom  exercised 
by  man,  as  it  can  only  be  developed  when  harmoni- 
ous conditions  surround  him,  in  both  his  ante- 
natal and  natural  life.  But  deficient  as  man  is  in 
his  mental  capacity  to  reason  purely  on  this  occult 
subject,  he  may,  nevertheless,  discover  surface  indi- 
cations of  truth  underlying  it  that  will  encourage 
him  to  "  dig  deeper  for  the  hiddeil  treasure/* 

The  mental  organization  of  man  is  too  imperfectly 
understood  for  us  to  sit  in  sober  judgment  and  pro- 
nounce upon  its  capabilities.  Few  men  have  any 
just  conception  of  the  sublime  possibilities  of  human 
nature.  When  we  reflect  that  every  man  has  wrapped 
up  in  himself  the  capacity  to  reproduce  all  that  has 
ever  been  achieved  by  the  human  family,  we  should 
pause  before  deciding  upon  the  extent  of  his  power. 
Hence,  are  we  not  liable  to  err  in  our  judgments  when 
we  ascribe  mental  phenomena  to  a  supersensuous 
origin,  which  may  be  shown,  a  priori,  to  be  the  legit- 
imate product  of  an  overstimulated  or  excited  brain  ? 
Under  such  influences  the  mind  may  be  startled  by 
the  grandeur  of  its  power,  the  boldness  of  its  con- 
ceptions, and  the  prolification  of  its  thoughts ;  but  we 
must  be  careful  how  we  accept  this  bewildering  dis- 
play of  latent  capacity  of  the  normal  mind,  and  as- 
cribe its  action  to  the  quickened  impulse  of  the 
spirit's  touch. 

**A  little  learning  is  a  dangerous  thing ; 
Drink  deep,  or  taste  not  the  Pierian  spring, 
A  shallow  draft  intoxicates  the  brain ; 
But  drinking  largely  sobers  it  again." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


96  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

It  is  evident  to  the  careful  observer  that  media 
for  mental  phenomena  frequently  represent  what  may 
be  called  mixed  influences.  That  is,  a  spirit  may 
get  a  partial  control  or  power  to  manifest  itself 
through  the  organization  of  the  medium,  while  the 
will-power  is  but  partially  abeyant.  When  such  con- 
ditions exist,  the  spirit  and  the  medium  will  jumble 
their  ideas,  and  the  communications  will  be  limp  and 
unsatisfactory.  This  is  an  undeveloped  phase  of  me- 
diumship,  and  never  to  be  relied  upon.  Indeed,  the 
more  thought  I  give  this  class  of  mental  manifesta- 
tions, and  the  more  I  see  of  them,  the  less  confidence 
do  I  have  in  their  trustworthiness.  Still  I  by  no 
means  denounce  them  as  entirely  unreliable.  I  can 
not  forget  that  to  this  class  of  media  originally  be- 
longed Mr.  Davis,  when  his  great  work,  to  which  I 
have  already  called  attention,  was  given  to  the  world. 
I  also  remember  that,  while  in  profound  trance,  the 
grandest  poem  of  the  nineteenth  century,  "The  Lyric 
of  the  Golden  Age,"  was  given  to  mankind  through 
the  organization  of  Mr.  T.  L.  Harris.  Others  of 
almost  equal  distinction  and  value  to  the  world  could 
be  cited,  to  show  my  appreciation  of  mental  phe- 
nomena ;  but  when  I  reflect  on  the  many  miserable 
shams  I  have  seen,  simulating  spiritual  control,  I  am 
almost  led  to  exclaim  against  them  all.  If  we  had 
nothing  better  than  mental  phenomena  to  demon- 
strate the  fact  that  the  spirit- world  was  in  com- 
munication with  this,  we  might  be  satisfied  with  the 
testimony  it  furnishes;  but  as  we  have  more  direct, 
positive,  and  less  equivocal  evidence  of  this  grand 
truth  furnished  by  physical  phenomena,  it  would  be  no 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  97 

great    loss    even   were    mental    phenomena   dropped 
entirely  from  sight. 

When  we  see  a  chair  move  without  a  visible 
power  to  change  its  position,  we  must  seek  to  dis- 
cover the  cause  of  its  motion  by  every  means  we 
can  employ.  If  we  fail  to  find  the  source  from  which 
motion  is  obtained  through  the  channels  of  sense,  or 
the  ordinary  methods  of  reasoning,  then  we  must 
employ  new  agencies  in  the  investigation  of  the 
phenomenon.  It  does  not  enlighten  us  any  to  say 
that  **  the  devil  has  a  hand  in  the  business  ;"  neither 
does  it  improve  our  understanding  to  allege  that  **the 
chair  is  bewitched,"  or  that  a  "wizard  has  woven  a 
spell  about  it."  Such  shifts  only  show  the  poverty  of 
your  mind  and  the  extremity  of  your  resources.  If 
you  want  to  establish  a  reputation  for  ability  and 
fair  dealing,  you  must  meet  the  case  with  clear  ideas. 
These  alone  will  secure  confidence  and  favor.  Do 
not  dodge  the  fact^  for  it  will  outlive  all  your  soph- 
istries, and  triumph  in  the  end.  The  chair  moves! 
Explain  the  law  of  motion  as  you  may.  Facts  are 
the  foundation  of  all  philosophy.  What  philosophy 
can  you  offer  to  explain  this  simple  fact  t 

While  both  phases  of  spiritual  manifestations  pre- 
sent claims  for  the  recognition  of  their  genuine  char- 
acter, I  am  free  to  declare  I  have  more  confidence 
in  the  physical  than  in  mental  phenomena.  The 
first  crystallizes  itself  in  facts,  the  second  diffuses 
itself  in  fancies.  A  fact  is  a  central  truth  already 
established.  The  philosophy  of  a  fact  may  be  cor- 
rupted in  the  whirligig  speculations  of  an  erratic 
idealist. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


g8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Men  do  their  own  thinking;  thought  is  the  true 
standard  of  manhood.  The  royal  stamp  of  individ- 
uality is  affixed  to  the  thinker  only.  When  he 
speaks,  he  wields  a  power  over  the  human  mind.  His 
thoughts  are  organized  forces,  compelling  homage. 
Nature  stamps  him  with  nobility.  Emerson  lives 
a  thousand  years  in  advance  of  the  pious  multitude 
who  mumble  over  a  rosary  or  gabble  responses  before 
a  perfumed  altar.  To  him,  how  pitiful  must  seem 
the  thoughtless  throng  who  are  harnessed  by  priests 
to  pull  the  ponderous  car  of  sect ! 

The  mental  phenomenalists  are  already  clamoring 
for  organization.  A  new  worshiping  sect  is  pro- 
posed, and  chartered  rights  are  invoked  for  their 
protection.  Let  sturdy  men  be  alert,  and  slow  to 
encourage  the  organization  of  a  spiritualistic  Church. 
This  proposition  comes  from  the  **  Greeks,"  those 
who  would  be  high-priests  in  the  new  synagogue,  or, 
from  pitiful  incompetents.  What  does  organization 
mean  but  the  surrender  of  your  manhood  into  the 
hands  of  your  officers }  Men  do  n't  think  alike.  Why 
should  they  act  alike  t  Bigots  and  dogmatists  form 
societies,  and  build  Churches,  and  curse  the  world. 
Truthful,  honorable,  noble  men  and  women  are  not 
clannish.  Truth  is  as  free  as  the  air,  as  pervading 
as  the  sunshine. 

Spiritualism  is  not  a  religion  in  a  partisan  sense. 
It  is  greater  than  this  :  it  is  a  science.  With  no 
Church  but  the  universe,  with  no  creed  but  truth, 
with  no  formulated  prayer  to  sustain  it,  it  constructs 
itself  a  power  to  rescue  mankind  from  the  sin  of 
ignorance,  from  the  crime  of  false  worship.     In  its 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  99 

selfhood  it  will  stand  the  admiration  of  the  world — 
hale  and  hearty,  when    the   systems  of  religion  now 

^building  churches  shall  have  been  forgotten,  and 
their  proudest  edifices  crumbled  to  decay.  To  sur- 
render this  science  into  the  hands  of  a  wily  priest- 
craft, is  to  betray  the  dearest  interests  of  humanity 
to  its  worst  enemy.  The  fact  is  not  changed,  the 
guilt  no  less,  or  the  enormity  of  the  act  mitigated 
in  the  least,  because  a  multitude  of  crazy  imbeciles 
or  zealots  do  this  degrading  thing.     The  %)ox  poptili 

.  is  not  the  vox  del. 

Spiritual  priests  are  no  more  to  be  trusted  than 
others  who  claim  in  an  orthodox  way  to  be  spiritual 
teachers.  They  shut  their  eyes,  and  then,  with  a  "  thus 
saith  the  Lord"  authority,  harangue  their  disciples. 
Whether  they  say  wise  or  foolish  things  is  not  to  the 
purpose;  the  objection  is  to  the  special  privilege  they 
have  to  speak  without  contradiction.  No  right  to  re- 
ply to  a  pulpit  falsehood  is  granted,  no  matter  how 
grossly  your  judgment  may  be  insulted.  The  priest, 
it  is  asserted,  is  simply  a  medium  through  whose 
organization  a  returned  spirit  speaks.  His  assump- 
tion may  be  true,  or  it  may  be  false.  How  are  we  to 
determine.^  We  can  not  even  "try  the  spirit,"  as 
the  privileges  of  the  order  debar  your  questionings. 
That  is  the  point  of  danger.  A  hook  is  put  into  your 
jaw  that  it  may  not  open.  ''Believe,  or  be  damned," 
is  the  language  of  our  moral  pirate.  Beware  of  or- 
ganization !  As  well  tie  your  neck  to  a  mill-stone, 
and  plunge  it  in  the  sea,  hoping  to  swim,  as  to 
freight  your  manhood  with  a  creed  and  expect  it  to  live. 
Consecration  to  the   Church   is   death   to  the  soul's 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


lOO  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

development.  Accept  the  benisoii  of  the  priest,  and 
you  become  a  slave  for  life.  The  spiritual  priest, 
while  under  the  influence  of  Jesus,  Swedenborg,  or 
Socrates,  demands  the  surrender  of  your  judgment 
and  the  homage  of  your  heart.  He  will  soon  make 
a  similar  demand  when  no  such  influence  is  claimed. 
This  mischief  will  follow  closely  upon  the  heels  of 
the  first  absurdity. 

I  once  heard  the  spirits  of  Thomas  Starr  King  and 
Colonel  Baker  speak  through  the  organization  of  a 
Dutch  woman ;  at  least  so  it  was  claimed,  and  ac- 
corded by  a  houseful  of  half-iiedged  mental  phenom- 
enalists.  Colonel  Baker  was  perorating  about  the 
time  I  entered  the  audience-room,  and,  as  soon  as  he 
had  spoken  his  piece  with  a  decided  Teutonic  accent, 
Thomas  Starr  King  took  possession  of  the  wardrobe 
of  this  remarkable  medium.  O,  but  he  was  happy  in 
his  new  inclosure  !  How  he  rattled  around  in  that 
organization — did  Thomas  Starr  King  I  Did  I  say  he 
was  happy?  No:  I  meant  it  not!  Like  the  caged 
starling,  I  fancied  I  heard  him  exclaim,  ''I  want  to 
get  out  !  I  want  to  get  out!"  It  was  a  V\\q  imprison- 
ment for  such  a  spirit  as  Thomas  Starr  King's.  He 
essayed. to  speak — to  tell  us  something  of  the  after- 
life ;  but  his  voice  was  reedy,  his  language  low, 
coarse,  and  ungrammatical ;  and  to  call  it  common- 
place would  be  simply  to  compliment  it.  So  unlike 
Thomas  Starr  King  was  this  dialectical  phonograph, 
that  his  nearest  friend  would  have  been  the  last  to 
recognize  his  presence.  How  others  felt  while  listen- 
ing to  this  mental  phenomenalist,  I  know  not  ;  but  I 
left  the  place  in  disgust,  and  with  a  sense  of  compas- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  lOI 

sion  for  the  credulous  man  or  woman  who  could  for 
a  moment  believe  that  the  disjointed  and  pointless 
utterances  we  had  listened  to  were  the  axiomatic  sen- 
tences of  the  classical  King  or  the  polished  diction 
of  the  eloquent  Baker.  Before  I  had  lost  all  faith  in 
mental  phenomena  and  human  nature,  I  put  a  safe 
distance  between  myself  and  Dayton  Street,  where  I 
had  listened  to  the  contemptible  drivel. 

It  is  sad  to  think  how  much  of  this  kind  of  stuff 
spiritualism  is  made  to  father.  It  is  growing  less,  I 
know  ;  and  for  this  we  are  sincerely  thankful.  But 
let  us  hasten  the  **good  time  coming"  by  every  means 
that  the  end  will  justify,  to  abate  the  nuisance  speed- 
ily and  altogether;  for,  at  the  very  best,  ^^  while  it 
makes  the  groundlings  laugh,  the  judicious  grieve." 
The  surprise  is,  that  the  great  truth  of  spirit-com- 
munion can,  under  such  absurd  exhibitions,  secure 
the  thoughtful  respect  of  men  at  all. 

Spiritualism  has  too  many  sincere  friends  to  per- 
mit either  the  buffoon  or  charlatan  to  bring  upon  it 
unmerited  reproach,  without  rebuke.  Its  mission  is 
too  important  to  mankind  to  allow  it  to  become  the 
toy  of  the  ignorant  or  the  agent  of  the  rascal.  Its 
truths  will  bring  all  races  of  men  together,  and  unite 
all  peoples  of  the  earth  in  a  fraternal  bond  of  fellow- 
ship. It  proposes  to  aboHsh  expensive  and  tawdry 
** plans  of  salvation,"  and  in  lieu  establish  a  free 
intercourse  between  the  natural  and  spirit  world.  Un- 
der its  benign  influence,  ignorance,  bigotry,  slavery, 
and  crime  will  gradually  disappear.  *' Free  thought 
and  unrestricted  inquiry"  is  the  armorial  motto  of 
its  power.     Creeds  that  corrode  with  death  the  souls 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


I02  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

of  men,  will  dissolve  in  its  benignant  light,  as  hoar- 
frost before  the  morning  sun.  Such  a  cause,  let  us 
hope,  may  never  want  defenders. 

While  I  was  investigating  spiritual  phenomena  in 
Boston,  the  Southern  Rebellion  began,  and  monopo- 
lized so  much  of  public  attention  that  I  was  com- 
pelled to  abandon  the  further  prosecution  of  my 
object.  Up  to  this  time,  however,  the  information  I 
had  acquired  on  the  subject  of  spirit-intercourse,  was 
of  such  a  character  as  to  give  me  new  views  of  life 
and  death,  and  to  relieve  the  mind  of  a  painful  uncer- 
tainty respecting  the  destiny  of  the  human  spirit.  It 
is  not  becoming  in  this  place  to  enter  more  minutely 
into  my  mental  experiences,  than  to  say  that  I  had 
studied  the  subject  in  every  practical  aspect,  and 
was  well  assured  in  my  mind  that  communication 
with  the  spirit-world  was  fairly  established,  and  that 
but  comparatively  a  short  time  would  elapse  before 
the  truth  would  be  universally  admitted.  With  this 
conviction  in  my  mind,  I  settled  down  to  business, 
and  for  several  years  scarcely  made  any  allusion  to 
the  subject  of  spiritualism,  unless  it  was  introduced 
by  others  in  casual  conversation.  Even  then,  I  said 
but  little  about  it,  as  I  found  but  few  who  could  listen 
complacently  to  a  candid  statement  of  the  facts,  such 
as  I  had  gathered  in  my  researches  after  truth,  and 
of  which  they  had  no  corresponding  knowledge  or 
experience.  "  It  can  not  be,"  said  the  Oriental  prince, 
''  that  water  gets  hard,  as  you  say.  None  of  my  peo- 
ple or  myself  have  ever  seen  such  a  thing."  Had 
the  prince  visited  Boston,  as  I  had,  he  would  have 
discovered  his  logic  to  be  faulty. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  IO3 

An  event  transpired  in  our  family,  on  the  9th  of 
January,  1869,  which  brought  the  practical  lesson  of 
spiritualism  again  prominently  before  my  mind.  It 
was  the  passage  of  my  mother  to  the  spirit-world. 
'^She  passed  away  quietly  in  the  night."  That  was 
the  short  but  expressive  story  that  was  told  me 
when  I  reached  home,  the  day  after  it  had  occurred. 

She  had  lived  in  the  form  almost  seventy-six 
years,  an  active  and  useful  life.  That  was  sufficient 
time  to  have  matured  her  spirit  and  developed  its 
faculties  for  the  beginning  of  a  higher  life.  Her 
transit  to  the  spirit-world  was  to  be  expected  at  that 
age.  Therefore  the  event  was  a  natural  one,  and 
should  have  created  no  surprise  nor  excited  any 
regret.  She  had  fulfilled  the  measure  of  life,  and 
the  law  of  change  had  enfolded  her  in  its  loving 
arms. 

Her  old  casket  was  well  worn,  but  even  when  the 
*' bright  inhabitant"  had  left,  it  was  still  beautiful  to 
the  eye  and  tender  to  the  heart ;  for  it  reminded  us 
so  much  of  mother.  The  loving  associations  of  our 
whole  life  clustered  around  that  inanimate  form, 
and,  as  if  in  recognition  of  our  thoughts,  it  wore  the 
imprint  of  a  smile  upon  the  face. 

My  mother  did  not  live  in  any  fear  of  death.  She 
had  a  desire  to  live  to  see  her  children  settled  in  life; 
but  was  at  all  times  prepared  for  the  event,  and  cheer- 
ful in  its  contemplation.  She  and  I  had  talked  over 
the  subject  often,  calmly,  and  without  reserve.  It 
was  not  a  morbid  theme  with  her.  She  surrounded 
herself  with  too  many  active  duties ;  but  she  had 
thought  maturely  on  the  inevitable  change,  and  had 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


I04  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

found  peace  in  her  soul.  She  said  to  me  the  last 
time  I  visited  home  before  her  death:  **  Napoleon,  I 
will  not  be  here  long;  death  will  soon  stop  my  work; 
my  age  and  bodily  infirmity  both  tell  me  this  ;  my 
life  has  been  a  busy  and  I  hope  a  useful  one  to 
all  about  me.  It  will  not  be  hard  to  die  when  my 
time  comes.  I  think  a  great  deal  on  this  subject, 
more  than  I  did  in  former  years." 

*' Your  intellect  gives  no  expressive  evidence  of 
decrepitude,  as  yet,  mother  ;  what  makes  you  think 
you  will  soon  pass  to  the  higher  life?" 

*'As  I  grow  old,"  she  replied,  "  I  have  new  sensa- 
tions, which,  I  think,  are  peculiar  to  age.  When  my 
slumbers  are  light,  I  have  visions  of  beautiful  land- 
scapes and  pleasant  abodes,  which  no  language  I  can 
employ  will  adequately  describe.  But  what  is  most 
strange  of  all,  these  places  are  peopled  by  those  I 
formerly  knew  when  living  on  the  earth,  but  who 
have  passed  long  since  to  the  spirit-world.  At  other 
times,  when  I  am  alone  and  most  calm,  I  hear  voices 
speak  my  name,  and  I  recognize  them  as  belonging 
to  those  who  have  long  since  died.  It  was  only  last 
week,  while  I  was  working  among  the  flowers  in  the 
garden,  I  heard  Aunt  Hannah  [her  sister  in  the 
spirit-world]  call  distinctly,  'Polly!  Polly!'  and  so 
real  was  it,  that  I  answered  aloud,  *What  do  you 
wish,  Hannah  T  At  the  instant  I  had  forgotten  your 
aunt  was.  dead.  It  must  have  been  her  spirit  that 
called  my  name!' 

''Quite  likely,"  I  said;  "and  it  was  your  interior 
sense  of  hearing  that  heard  the  sound.  This  is  what 
is  called  clairaudience,  or  clear-hearing.     The  same 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  105 

change  takes  place  in  the  sight.  When  impressions 
grow  dim  to  the  external  organ,  through  age,  it 
frequently  occurs  that  the  interior  sight  is  developed, 
and  takes  cognizance  of  things  which  the  natural  eye 
can  not  see.  You  know  old  black  Timothy  that 
comes  to  prepare  kindling-wood  for  us :  he  is  ninety- 
five  years  old,  and  is  a  most  remarkable  man  for  his 
vears.  When  he  was  here  last,  I  asked  him  some 
questions  touching  this  same  subject  of  ''second 
sight"  and  ''second  hearing,"  and  he  made  answer 
almost  exactly  as  you  do.  Being  psychologized  with 
religious  ideas,  he  said  he  saw  Jesus  and  Paul  and 
John  the  Baptist  (Timothy  believes  in  water),  and 
many  other  of  the  blessed  saints,  in  his  cabin  every 
night,  and  heard  them  pray  and  shout,  and  have  a 
good  time  generally. 

''With  your  interior  faculties  not  stimulated  with 
religious  ecstasy,  you  see  John,  Hannah,  Peggy, 
Charles,  Sam,  and  Thomas,  the  whole  family  of 
brothers  and  sisters,  dwellers  in  the  spirit-world,  who., 
await  your  coming  to  complete  the  circle  so  long 
since  broken.  That  to  which  I  wish  to  call  your  at- 
tention is  the  phenomenal  fact  that,  as  you  grow  old, 
and  the  natural  senses  grow  dim,  the  spiritual  fac- 
ulties unfold,  and  sweep,  with  their  powerful  reaches, 
boundaries  beyond  the  scrutiny  of  common  ken." 

On,  another  occasion,  when  talking  with  my 
mother,  she  said : 

"While  we  can,  let  us  help  one  another  to  do 
right.  Always  do  what  you  think  is  best  for  all. 
Selfishness  will  destroy  your  happiness.  Think  of 
others,  and  forget  yourself     That  is  the  best  religion 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


I06  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

you  can  have.  God  is  our  common  Father.  Surely 
he  wants  all  his  children  to  be  happy.  He  loves  them 
all  alike  ;  the  serpent  and  the  dove  belong  to  him. 
He  has  no  favorites,  nor  acts  by  partial  but  by  gen- 
eral laws.  The  unjust  are  never  happy.  Do  your 
duty  to  all  men ;  then  only  are  you  true  to  yourself.'* 

These  fragments  of  talk  with  my  mother  will 
serve  to  show  the  quality  of  her  spirit,  whose  casket 
we  were  now  assembled  to  look  upon  for  the  last 
time,  ere  it  was  buried  forever  from  sight. 

The  preparations  were  complete,  kindred  and 
friends  filled  the  house,  and  a  settled  sadness  seemed 
to  pervade  the  very  atmosphere  on  the  occasion.  My 
sisters  were  stricken  with  grief,  and  lamentation  was 
loud.  Death  had  overtaken  the  best  of  us,  and  there 
seemed  no  comfort. 

Something  said  in  my  ear,  **  Napoleon,  speak  !'* 
I  heard  it  distinctly,  and  it  sounded  like  the  voice 
of  my  mother.  Believing  it  to  be  her  wish,  I  rose 
to  my  feet  and  said: 

"It  is  not  my  intention  to  speak  a  eulogy  on 
the  well-spent  life  of  my  mother.  That  you  have 
already  in  your  hearts,  you  who  knew  her  best.  We 
will  improve  the  occasion  by  uttering  a  few  reflec- 
tions on  the  subject  of  death  : 

"It  is  customary  to  invest  death  with  a  frightful 
sense  of  dread  or  terror.  Let  us  to-day  honor  this 
custom  in  the  breach.  Here,  in  the  presence  of  its 
latest  victim,  whose  mortal  remains  my  eyes  now 
rest  upon,  and  the  dearest  object  of  my  heart,  I  can 
say  truthfully  that  no  such  feeling  darkens  my  un- 
derstanding or  affrights  my  soul.     But,  on  the  con- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  \oj 

trary,  this  hour,  death  seems  beautiful  to  me,  and 
beneficent  in  its  mission.  We  have  no  fear  of  that 
which  is  natural ;  and  it  is  as  natui^al  to  die  as  to  be 
borUy  and  the  ojte  event  is  no  more  a  mark  of  displeas- 
ure of  the  Almighty  than  the  other.  Properly  con- 
sidered, death  is  really  the  complement  of  life,  a  sec- 
ond birth,  through  whose  divine  agency  the  spirit 
passes  from  a  rudimental  body  to  a  more  ethereal 
one,  and  from  the  earth-plane  of  life  to  one  more 
beautiful,  developed,  and  refined. 

''We  celebrate  such  an  event  by  our  presence 
to-day.  The  occasion  should  not  be  a  sad  one,  and, 
if  we  understood  it  correctly,  it  would  not  be.  Were 
it  not  for  sundering  the  social  ties,  the  rude  sepa- 
ration of*  love's  strong  ligaments,  the  occasion  would 

*Mr.  Davis,  in  his  first  volume  of  the  **  Great  Harmonia,"  pages 
163-172,  gives  this  lucid  description  of  the  process  by  which  the  spirit, 
at  death,  separates  itself  from  the  material  body.  It  is  somewhat 
lengthy  for  an  extract  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  but  the  universal  inter- 
est felt  in  the  subject  of  death,  will  be  sufficient  apology  for  giving  it 
so  much  prominence  in  these  pages. 

"Death  is  but  a  door  which  opens  into  new  and  more  perfect 
existence.  It  is  a  triumphal  arch  through  which  man's  immortal  spirit 
passes  at  the  moment  of  leaving  the  outer  world  to  depart  for  a  higher, 
a  sublimer,  and  a  more  magnificent  country.  And  there  is  really  noth- 
ing more  painful  or  repulsive  in  the  natural  process  of  dying  (that 
\\\\ic\\  IS  wot  md^nc^d.  by  disease  or  accident)  than  there  is  in  passing 
into  a  quiet,  pleasant,  and  dreamless  slumber.  The  truthfulness  of 
this  proposition  is  remarkably  illustrated  and  confirmed  by  the  follow- 
ing observations  and  investigation  into  the  physiological  and  psycho- 
logical phenomena  of  death,  which  my  spirit  was  qualified  to  make 
upon  the  person  of  a  diseased  individual  at  the  moment  of  physical 
dissolution  : 

"The  patient  was  a  female  of  about  sixty  years  of  age.  Nearly 
eight  months  previous  to  her  death,  she  visited  me  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  a  medical  examination  of  her  physical  system.  Although 
there  were  no  sensations  experienced  by  her,  excepting  a  mere  weak- 
ness or  feebleness  located  in  the  duodenum,  and  a  falling  of  the  palate, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


I08  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

be  one  of  felicitation  and  gratitude,  rather  than  of 
grief  and  despair. 

"The  separation  of  the  spirit  from  the  body  is  a 
natural  and  beautiful  process  of  law.     There  is  noth- 

yet  I  discovered,  and  distinctly  perceived,  that  she  would  die  with  a 
cancerous  disease  of  the  stomach.  This  examination  was  made  about 
eight  months  previous  to  her  death.  Having  ascertained  the  certainty 
of  her  speedy  removal  from  our  earth,  without  perceiving  the  precise 
period  of  her  departure  (for  I  can  not  spiritually  measure  time  or  space), 
I  internally  resolved  to  be  present  and  watch  the  jDrogressive  develop- 
ment of  that  interesting  but  much-dreaded  phenomenon.  Moved  by 
this  resolution,  I,  at  a  later  period,  engaged  board  in  her  house,  and 
officiated  as  her  physician.  When  the  hour  of  her  death  arrived,  I 
was  fortunately  in  a  proper  state  of  mind  to  induce  the  superior  condi- 
tion ;  but,  previous  to  throwing  my  spirit  into  that  condition,  I  sought 
the  most  convenient  and  favorable  position,  tliat  I  might  be  allowed  to 
make  the  observations  entirely  unnoticed  and  undisturbed.  (For  an 
explanation  of  what  is  meant  by  the  superior  condition,  and  of  the 
nature  and  character  of  my  spiritual  perceptions,  I  refer  the  reader  to 
the  department  of  this  work  which  is  particularly  devoted  to  the  phi- 
losophy of  psychology.)  Thus  situated  and  conditioned,  I  proceeded 
to  observe  and  investigate  the  mysterious  processes  of  dying,  and  to 
learn  what  it  is  for  an  individual  human  spirit  to  undergo  the  changes 
consequent  upon  physical  death  or  external  dissolution.  They  were 
these  : 

**I  saw  that  tlie  physical  organization  could  no  longer  subserve  the 
diversified  purposes  or  requirements  of  the  spiritual  principle.  But 
the  various  internal  organs  of  the  body  appeared  to  resist  the  with- 
drawal of  the  animating  soul.  The  muscular  system  struggled  to  re- 
tain the  element  of  motion  ;  the  vascular  system  strove  to  retain  the 
element  of  life ;  the  nervous  system  put  forth  all  its  powers  to  retain 
the  element  of  sensation  ;  and  the  cerebral  system  labored  to  retain 
the  principle  of  intelligence.  The  body  and  the  soul,  like  two  friends, 
strongly  resisted  the  various  circumstances  which  rendered  their  eter- 
nal separation  imperative  and  absolute.  These  internal  conflicts  gave 
rise  to  manifestations  of  what  seemed  to  be,  to  the  material  senses,  the 
most  thrilling  and  painful  sensations,  but  I  was  unspeakably  thankful  and 
delighted  when  I  perceived  and  realized  the  fact  that  those  physical  man- 
ifestations were  indications,  not  of  pain  or  unhappiness,  but  simply  that 
the  spirit  was  eternally  dissolving  its  copartnership  with  the  material 
organism.  Now  the  head  of  the  body  became  suddenly  enveloped  in 
a  fine,  soft,  mellow,  luminous  atmosphere,  and  as  instantly  I  saw  the 
cerebrum  and  the  cerebellum  expand  their  most  interior  portions.     I 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  109 

ing  ill  the  act  to  jar  our  sensibilities  or  excite  our 
fear.  Let  us  be  calm  now,  while  we  examine  the 
body  of  a  human  being,  and  ascertain  how  fearfully 
and  wonderfully  it  is  made. 

saw  them  discontinue  their  appropriate  galvanic  functions,  and  then  I 
saw  that  they  became  highly  charged  with  the  vital  electricity  and 
vital  magnetism  which  permeate  subordinate  systems  and  structures. 
That  is  to  say,  the  brain,  as  a  whole,  suddenly  declared  itself  to  be  ten- 
fold more  positive,  over  the  lesser  portions  of  the  bod}^,  than  it  ever 
was  during  the  period  of  health.  This  phenomenon  invariably  pre- 
cedes physical  dissolution. 

"Now  the  process  of  dying,  or  of  the  spirit's  departure  from  the 
body,  was  fully  commenced.  The  brain  began  to  attract  the  elements 
of  electricity,  of  magnetism,  of  motion,  of  life,  and  of  sensation  into  its 
various  and  numerous  departments.  The  head  became  intensely  brill- 
iant, and  I  particularly  remarked  that  just  in  the  same  proportion  as 
the  extremities  of  the  organism  grew  dark  and  cold,  the  brain  appeared 
light  and  glowing.  Now  I  saw,  in  the  mellow,  spiritual  atmosphere 
which  emanated  from  and  encircled  her  head,  the  indistinct  outlines  of 
the  formation  of  another  head.  The  reader  should  remember  that 
these  super-sensuous  processes  are  not  visible  to  any  one  except  the  spiritual 
perceptio7ts  he  ttnfolded ;  for  material  eyes  can  only  behold  material  things, 
and  spiritual  eyes  can  only  behold  spiritual  t/iings.  This  is  a  law  of 
nature.  This  new  head  unfolded  more  and  more  distinctly,  and  so 
indescribably  compact  and  intensely  brilliant  did  it  become  that  I 
could. neither  see  through  it  nor  gaze  upon  it  as  steadily  as  I  desired. 

"  While  this  spiritual  head  was  being  eliminatedand  organized  from 
out  of,  and  above,  the  material  head,  I  saw  that  the  surrounding  aro- 
mal  atmosphere,  which  had  emanated  from  the  material  head,  was  in 
great  commotion ;  but,  as  the  new  head  became  more  distinct  and  per- 
fect, this  brilliant  atmosphere  gradually  disappeared.  This  taught  me 
that  those  aromal  elements  which  were,  in  the  beginning  of  the  meta- 
morphosis, attracted  from  the  system  into  the  brain,  and  thence  elim- 
inated  in   the  form   of  an    atmosphere,   were    indissolubly    united    in 

accordance    with    tlie    divine    principle  of"  affinity  in    the    universe  which 

pervades  and  destinates  every  particle  of  matter,  and  developed  the 
spiritual  head  which  I  beheld.  With  inexpressible  wonder,  and  with  a 
heavenly  and  utterable  reverence,  I  gazed  upon  the  holy  and  harmoni- 
ous processes  that  were  going  on  before  me.  In  the  identical  manner 
in  which  the  spiritual  head  was  eliminated  and  unchangeably  organized, 
I  saw,  unfolding  in  their  natural,  progressive  order,  the  harmonious 
development  of  the  neck,  the  shoulders,  the  breast,  and  the  entire  spir- 
itual  organization.      It   appeared  from  this,  even  to  an  unequivocal 

12 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


no  STAR TLING  FA CTS  IN 

"Scientifically  and  critically  speaking,  the  human 
body  may  be  said  to  be  an  aggregation  of  elements, 
or  chemical  vapors.  Its  purposes  we  have  already 
stated.     We  now  pass  it  to  the  analytical  chemist, 

demonstration,  that  the  innumerable  particles  of  what  might  be  termed 
unparticled  matter,  whicli  constitute  the  man's  spiritual  principle,  are 
constitutionally  endowed  with  certain  elective  affinities,  analogous  io 
an  immortal  friendship.  The  innate  tendencies  which  the  elements 
and  essences  of  her  soul  ma?)i Tested  by  uniting  and  organizing  them- 
selves, were  the  efficient  and  eminent  causes  which  unfolded  and  per- 
fected her  spiritual  organization.  The  defects  and  deformities  of  her 
physical  body  were,  in  the  spiritual  body  which  I  saw  thus  developed, 
almost  completely  removed,  In  other  words,  it  seemed  that  those 
hereditary  obstructions  and  influences  were  now  removed,  which  orig- 
inally arrested  the  full  and  proper  development  of  her  physical  consti- 
tution, and  therefore  that  her  spiritual  constitution,  being  elevated 
above  those  obstructions,  was  enabled  to  unfold  and  perfect  itself,  in 
accordance  with  the  universal  tendencies  of  all  created  things.  While 
this  spiritual  formation  was  going  on,  which  was  perfectly  visible  to 
my  spiritual  perceptions,  the  material  body  manifested,  to  the  outer 
vision  of  observing  individuals  in  the  room,  many  symptoms  of  uneasi- 
ness and  pain  ;  but  these  indications  were  totally  deceptive  ;  they  were 
wholly  caused  by  the  departure  of  the  vital  or  si))ritna1  forces  from  the 
extremities  and  viscera  into  the  brain,  and  thence  into  the  ascending 
organism.  The  spirit  arose  at  right  angle  over  the  head  or  brain  of 
the  deserted  body.  But  immediately  previous  to  the  final  dissolution 
of  the  relationship  which  had  so  many  years  subsisted  between  the 
two  spiritual  and  material  bodies,  I  saw,  playing  energetically  between 
the  feet  of  the  elevated  spiritual  body  and  the  head  of  the  prostrate 
physical  body,  a  bright  stream  or  current  of  vital  electricity.  This 
taught  me  that,  what  is  customarily  termed  death,  is  but  a  birth  of  the 
spirit  from  a  lower  into  a  higher  state  ;  that  an  inferior  body  and  mode 
of  existence  are  exchanged  for  a  superior  body  and  corresponding 
endowments  and  capabilities  of  happiness.  I  learned  that  the  corre- 
spondence betw^een  the  birth  of  a  child  into  this  world  and  the  birth  of 
the  spirit  from  the  material  body  into  a  higher  world,  is  absolute  and 
complete,  even  to  the  twihilkal  cord,  which  was  represented  by  the 
thread  of  vital  electricity,  which,  for  a  few  minutes,  subsisted  between 
and  connected  the  two  organisms  together.  And  here  I  perceived 
what  I  never  before  obtained  any  knowledge  of,  that  a  small  portion 
of  this  vital  electrical  element  returned  to  the  deserted  body,  immedi- 
ately subsequent  to  the  separation  of  the  umbilical  thread  ;  and  that 
that   portion   of    this  element   which   passed   back   into   the    earthly 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 1 1 

and  he  must  tell  us  of  what  it  is  composed.  He 
finds  in  it  more  primary  elements  than  is  found  in 
any  other  mass  of  matter  of  equal  avoirdupois.  In- 
deed, all  other  forms  of  matter  seem  but  to  furnish 

organism,  instantly  diffused  itself  through  the  entire  structure,  and  thus 
prevented  immediate  decomposition. 

*'It  is  not  proper  that  a  body  should  be  deposited  into  the  earth 
until  after  decomposition  has  positively  commenced;  for,  should  there 
be  no  positive  evidences  of  such  structural  change,  even  though  it 
seems  surely  to  have  departed,  it  is  not  right  to  consign  the  body  to 
the  grave.  The  umbilical  life-cord,  of  which  I  speak,  is  sometimes 
not  severed,  but  is  drawn  out  into  the  finest  possible  medium  of  sym- 
pathetic connection  between  the  body  and  the  spirit.  This  is  invari- 
ably the  case  when  individuals  apparently  die,  and,  after  being  absent 
for  a  few  days  or  hours,  return,  as  from  a  peaceful  journey,  to  relate 
their  spiritual  experiences.  Such  phenomena  are  modernly  termed 
trances,  catalepsy,  somnambulism,  and  spirit  ecstasies.  There  are 
many  different  stages,  or  divisions  and  subdivisions,  of  these  states. 
But  when  the  spirit  is  ai'rested  in  its  flight  from  the  body,  and  when  it 
is  held  in  a  transitional  or  mediatorial  state  for  only  a  few  hours  or 
minutes,  then  the  mind  seldom  retains  a  recollection  of  its  experience. 
This  state  of  forgetfulness  seems,  to  a  superficial  observer,  like  anni- 
hilation, and  this  occasional  suspension  of  consciousness,  or  memory, 
is  frequently  made  the  foundation  of  many  an  argument  against  the 
soul's  immortal  existence.  It  is  when  the  spirit  entirely  leaves  the 
body — only  retaining  proprietorship  over  it  through  the  medium  of  the 
unsevered  umbilical  thread  or  electric  wire,  as  it  might  be  called — that 
the  soul  is  enabled  to  abandon  its  earthly  tenement  and  interests,  for 
many  hours  or  days,  and  afterward  to  return  to  the  earth,  ladened  with 
bright  and  happy  memories.  As  soon  as  the  spirit,  whose  departing 
hour  I  thus  watched,  was  wholly  disengaged  from  the  tenacious  physical 
body,  I  directed  my  attention  to  the  movements  and  emotions  of  the 
former  ;  and  I  saw  her  begin  to  breathe  the  most  interior  or  spiritual  por- 
tions of  the  surrounding  terrestrial  atmosphere.  At  first  it  seemed  with 
difficulty  that  she  could  breathe  the  new  medium;  but,  in  a  few  sec- 
onds, she  inhaled  and  exhaled  the  spiritual  elements  of  nature  with  ease 
and  delight.  And  now^  I  saw  she  was  in  the  possession  of  exterior  and 
physical  proportions,  which  were  identical  in  every  possible  particu- 
lar— improved  and  beautiful — with  those  proportions  which  character- 
ized her  earthly  organization.  That  is  to  say,  she  possessed  a  heart,  a 
stomach,  a  liver,  lungs,  etc.,  just  as  her  natural  body  did  previous  to 
(not  her,  but)  its  death. 

•'This  is  a  wonderful  and  consoling  truth.     But  I  saw  that  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


112  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

supplies  of  elements  for  this.  They  are  held  together, 
temporarily,  by  agents  whose  power  may  be  neutral- 
ized by  the  genius  of  the  laboratory.  Why  should 
we  not   look  at  this    subject  as  the  chemist  does? 

improvements  wliicli  were  wrought  upon  and  in  her  spiritual  organiza- 
tion were  not  so  particular  and  tliorough  as  to  destroy  or  transcend  her 
personality;  nor  did  they  materially  alter  her  natural  appearance  or 
earthly  characteristics.  So  much  like  her  former  self  was  she  that,  had 
her  friends  beheld  her  (as  I  did),  they  certainly  would  have  exclaimed— 
as  we  often  do  upon  the  sudden  return  of  a  long  absent  friend,  who 
leaves  us  in  illness  and  returns  in  health—"  Why,  how  well  you  look  ! 
how  improved  you  are  !"  Such  was  the  nature— most  beautifying  in 
their  extent—of  the  improvements  that  were  wrought  upon  her. 

**I  saw  her  continue  to  conform  and  accustom  herself  to  the  new 
elements  and  elevating  sensation  wdiich  belong  to  the  inner  life.  I  did  not 
particularly  notice  the  workings  and  emotions  of  her  newly  awakening 
and  fast-unfolding  spirit,  except  that  I  was  careful  to  remark  her  phil- 
osophic tranquillity  throughout  the  entire  process,  and  her  non-partici- 
pation with  the  different  members  of  her  family  in  their  unrestrained 
bewailing  of  her  departure  from  the  earth,  to  unfold  in  love  and  wis- 
dom throughout  eternal  spheres.  She  understood,  at  a  glance,  that 
they  could  only  gaze  upon  the  cold  and  lifeless  form  which  she  had  but 
just  deserted;  and  she  readily  comprehended  the  fact,  that  it  was 
owing  to  a  want  of  true  knowledge  upon  their  parts  that  they  thus 
vehemently  regretted  her  merely  physical  death. 

"The  excessive  weeping  and  lamentation  of  friends  and  relatives 
over  the  external  form  of  one  departed,  are  mainly  caused  by  the  sen- 
suous and  superficial  mode  by  which  the  majority  of  mankind  view  the 
phenomenon  of  death.  For,  with  but  few  exceptions,  the  race  is  so 
conditioned  and  educated  on  the  earth;  not  yet  having  grown  into 
spiritual  perceptions;  not  yet  progressed  to  where  "whatsoever  is 
hid  shall  be  revealed  ;"  realizing,  only  through  the  medium  of  the 
natural  senses,  the  nearness  of  the  j^eloved  ;  watching  and  compre- 
hending only  the  external  signs  and  processes  of  physical  dissolution, 
supposing  this  contortion  to  indicate  pain,  and  ^'//^z' expression  to  indi- 
cate anguish,— I  say,  the  race  is  so  situated  and  educated  that  death  of 
the  body  (to  the  majority  of  the  earth's  inhabitants)  is  equivalent  to  an 
annihilation  of  the  personality  of  the  individual.  But  T  would  comfort 
the  superficial  observer,  and  T  can  solemnly  assure  the  inquirer  after 
truth,  that,  when  an  individual  dies  naturally,  the  spirit  experiences  no 
paini  nor,  should  the  material  body  be  dissolved  with  disease  or 
crushed  by  the  fearful  avalanche,  is  the  individuality  of  the  spirit  de- 
formed, or  in  the  least  degree  obscured.     Could  you   but  turn  your 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM, 


113 


Is  there  no  truth  in  his  science?  Who  will  question 
eternal  principles  but  the  knave  or  fool  ? .  Ignorance 
may  deplore  the  utterance  of  a  fundamental  truth, 
and   grief  may  cry  aloud  its   senseless  wail   over   a 

natural  gaze  from  the  lifeless  body  which  can  no  longer  answer  to  your 
look  of  love,  and  could  your  spiritual  eyes  be  opened,  you  would 
behold,  standing  in  your  midst,  a  form,  the  same,  but  more  beautiful 
and  living.  Hence,  there  is  great  cause  to  rejoice  at  the  bh^th  of  the 
spirit  from  this  world  into  the  inner  sphere  of  life;  yea,  it  is  far  more 
reasonable  and  appropriate  to  weep  at  the  majority  of  marriages  which 
occur  in  this  world  than  to  lament  when  man's  immortal  spirit  escapes 
from  its  earthly  form  to  live  and  unfold  in  a  higher  and  better  country. 
You  may  clothe  yourselves  with  the  dark  habiliments  of  woe  when 
you  consign  at  the  altar  a  heart  to  a  living  grave,  or  when  you  chain 
the  soul  to  breathe  in  an  uncongenial  atmosphere ;  but  robe  yourselves 
with  garments  of  light  to  honor  the  spirit's  birth  into  a  higher  life. 

''The  period  required  to  accomplish  the  ^\\\^\x&  change  v^\\\(z\\  I  saw, 
was  not  far  from  two  hours  and  a  half;  but  this  furnishes  no  rule  as  to 
the  time  required  for  every  spirit  to  elevate  and  reorganize  itself  above 
the  head  of  the  outer  form.  Without  changing  my  position  or  spiritual 
perceptions,  I  continue  to  observe  the  movements  of  her  new-born 
spirit.  As  soon  as  she  became  accustomed  to  the  new  elements  which 
surround  her,  she  descended  from  her  elevated  position,  which  was 
immediately  over  the  body,  by  an  effort  of  the  will-power,  and  directly 
passed  out  of  the  door  of  the  bed-room,  in  which  she  had  lain  (in  the 
material  form)  prostrated  with  disease  for  several  weeks.  It  being  in  a 
Summer  month,  the  doors  were  all  open,  and  her  egress  from  the 
house  was  attended  with  no  obstructions.  I  saw  her  pass  through  the 
adjoining  room  out  of  the  door,  and  step  from  the  house  into  the 
atmosphere.  I  was  overwhelmed  with  delight  and  astonishment  when, 
for  the  first  time,  I  realized  the  universal  truth  that  the  spiritual  organ- 
ization can  tread  the  atmosphere,  which,  while  in  the  coarser,  earthly 
form,  we  breathe — so  much  more  refined  is  man's  spiritual  constitution. 
She  walked  in  the  atmosphere  as  easily,  and  in  tlie  same  manner,  as 
we  tread  the  earth  and  ascend  an  eminence. 

"Immediately  upon  emergement  from  the  house,  she  was  joined  by 
two  friendly  spirits  from  the  spiritual  country  ;  and,  after  tenderly  recog- 
nizing and  communing  with  each  other,  the  three,  in  the  most  graceful 
manner,  began  ascending  obliquely  through 'the  ethereal  envelopment 
of  our  globe.  They  walked  so  naturally  and  fraternally  together,  that 
I  could  scarcely  realize  the  fact  that  they  trod  the  air.  They  seemed 
to  be  walking  upon  the  side  of  a  glorious  but  familiar  mountain.  I 
continued    to   gaze    upon    them    until    the   distance   shut   them  from 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


114  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

beautiful  manifestation  of  a  natural  law,  but  both 
are  impotent  to  change  the  eternal  order  of  things. 
For  this  we  are  grateful. 

"The  distinguished  German  scholar,  Liebig,  the 
chemist  [since  passed  to  the  spirit-world],  invited 
his  class  of  students  to  his  laboratory  to  witness 
the  chemical  analysis^  or  decompositio7t,  of  a  human 
body.  Pausing  at  the  door,  he  turned  to  his  'three 
hundred'  and  said:  'This  temple  is  devoted  to 
science.  We  here  seek  to  discover  the  great 
truths  that  are  enveloped  in  matter.  If  any  of  yo-u 
hesitate  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  such  as  the 
crucible  and  retort  unfold,  do  not  enter  here.  God 
wants  no  wavering  service  from  those  who  seek  him. 
His  laws  are  not  past  finding  out,  if  we  seek  them 
dihgently.' 

"Before  him  on  the  table  lay  a  human  body. 
This  he  prepared  to  dissolve  by  chemicals,  and 
with  test  conditions  to  secure  the  recognition  of  the 
elements  composing  its  organization.  The  pro- 
cess was  slow,  the  interest  intense,  but  the  fact  was 
accomplished.  He  reduced  one  hundred  and  forty- 
five  pounds  of  matter  to  an  impalpable,  elementary 
condition.  The  gases  floating  on  the  viewless  air 
were  inhaled  into  the  lungs,  such  as  were  needed, 
by  those  present,  and  the  remainder  settled  in  the 
house,  or  escaped  to  the  fields  or  woods,  where  they 

my  view,  whereupon  I  returned  to  my  external  and  ordinary  con- 
dition. 

"  O,  what  a  contrast !  Instead  of  beholding  that  beautiful  and  youth- 
ful  and  unfolded  spirit,  I  now  saw,  in  common  with  those  about  me, 
the  lifeless,  cold,  and  shrouded  organism  of  the  caterpillar,  which  the 
joyous  butterfly  had  so  recently  abandoned  !" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  \  \  5 

were  taken  up  by  the  respiration  of  flowers,  vege- 
tables, or  the  leaf-lungs  of  the  forest-trees. 

"  His  work  being  completed,  he  said  :  'Gentlemen, 
the  matter  you  have  seen  dissolved,  has  not  been  lost 
in  any  other  sense  than  to  the  natural  eye.  It  still 
exists  in  an  elementary  condition,  and  will  enter  mill- 
ions of  new  organizations.  Some  of  you  have  in- 
haled the  oxygen,  the  flowers  will  take  in  the  hydro- 
gen and  carbon,  and  the  grain  you  see  waving  in 
yonder  field  will  feed  upon  its  liberated  gases.  The 
body  which  you  saw  can  never  be  reorganized  ;  it 
has  passed  away,  and  so  will  all  our  bodies,  by  the 
chemistry  of  the  grave.' 

''There  is  no  appeal  from  the  decisions  of  science. 
The  destructibility  of  the  human  body  for  all  time 
has  been  fairly  demonstrated.  It  is  senseless  gabble 
to  talk  of  its  resurrection.  Physical  dissolution  is 
proved — ?i  fait  accompli.  It  avails  nothing  what  men 
may  say,  do,  or  believe  to  the  contrary,  the  fact 
remains  undisturbed.  A  million  of  undeveloped  peo- 
ple can  neither  falsify  a  truth  nor  dignify  a  lie.  We 
owe  it  to  the  world,  that  this  fact  shall  be  made 
known.  There  has  been  too  much  evasion,  too  much 
plastic  rhetoric,  displayed  on  such  occasions.  Let 
the  truth  be  for  once  spoken,  that,  though  the  body 
is  consigned  to  eternal  oblivion,  the  spirit  lives 
forever. 

"  Why,  then,  do  we  honor  these  ashes  1  Because 
it  was  in  this  temple  her  spirit  dwelt.  Here  it  gave 
out  the  only  expression  of  itself,  with  which  we  were 
familiar.  In  this  tenement  her  spirit  unfolded  in  wis- 
dom as  it  grew  in  stature  and   loveliness.     To  lay 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Il6  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

this  casket  aside  with  becoming  respect,  is  the  ten- 
der dictate  of  affection,  and  the  only  means  we  have 
left  of  expressing  our  feelings  and  appreciation  of 
her  worth.  As  we  look  on  this  familiar  face,  we 
think  of  the  excellent  qualities  that  adorned  it  in 
life.  It  is  hard  to  disassociate  them.  But  the 
light  has  gone  out,  the  color  has  faded  from  the 
cheek,  and  the  accents  of  love  have  died  forever  on 
these  motionless  lips.  Still  all  that  was  essen- 
tially mother  lives.  Love  never  dies.  The  spirit  is 
immortal." 

These  remarks  reminded  some  people  that  I  en- 
tertained opinions  of  my  own  ;  but,  excepting  this 
occasion,  and  the  one  to  which  I  have  alluded  before, 
when  I  presided  at  Pardee's  meeting,  I  had  given 
no  public  testimony  for  ten  years  of  my  convictions 
and  adherence  to  the  teachings  of  the  Harmonial 
Philosophy.  Indeed,  I  had  attained  that  maturity 
of  age  when  men  cease  to  parade  before  the  world, 
uncalled  for,  the  convictions  of  their  mind,  which 
quietly  mold  and  regulate  the  actions  of  their  life. 
Lapsing  again  into  the  pleasant  retirement  of  my 
own  home,  after  the  death  of  my  mother,  the  curtain 
dropped,  as  I  supposed,  upon  the  final  act  of  life's 
busy  drama,  and  I  had  only  to  live  quietly,  growing 
old  as  gracefully  as  circumstances  would  permit. 

I  was  mistaken.  Perhaps  the  wish  was  father  to 
the  thought.  But  on  the  Sth  of  February  I  received 
a  letter  from  Mrs.  Annie  Wood,  a  resident  of  Lou- 
isville, Kentucky,  in  which  she  stated  that  herself 
and  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Hollis  intended  making  a  visit  to 
Cincinnati  for  a  day  or  two,  on  a  "shopping"  expe- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


117 


dition,  and  that  they  would  give  me  the  pleasure  of 
their  company  as  guests  during  their  short  stay. 
Lady-like,  there  was  a  postscript  to  the  letter,  which 
read  as  follows  : 

"P.  S. — Mrs.  Hollis  is  a  trumpet-inedium.  I  presume  you 
have  heard  of  her  through  the  spiritual  papers,  as  her  manifes- 
tations have  been  reported  quite  frequently  in  the  Banner  of 
Light  and  Religio- Philosophical  Journal?' 

My  correspondent  had  presumed  too  much.  I 
had  never  heard  of  Mrs.  Hollis  up  to  that  time.  Her 
name  was  now  first  announced  to  me,  and  if  she  bad 
been  an  embassadress  from  Kamscbatka  she  cotdd 
not  have  been  a  more  utter  stranger. 

13 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 1 8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER  VII. 

DARK  CIRCLES— MRS.  HOLLIS  IN  TERROR— EXTRAOR- 
DINARY SIGHTS— A  NEW  THEORY  OF  SICK- 
NESS—A  "WHAT  IS  IT?" 

THE  ladies  arranged  a  programme  to  suit  them- 
selves. I  was  to  meet  them  at  the  wharf  on 
Friday,  A.  M.,  on  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  General 
Lytle,  and  convey  them  to  my  house.  They  would 
do  their  shopping  on  the  same  day — have  Saturday 
for  matinee  and  promenade,  and  attend  church  for 
the  fashions  on  Sunday.  Monday  was  the  day  fixed 
for  returning  to  Louisville. 

Accordingly,  I  was  on  the  levee  at  day-dawn  with 
my  carriage,  Friday,  waiting  for  the  Lytle,  She  was 
an  hour  late,  in  consequence  of  floating  ice.  At  last 
the  steamer  came  in,  and  the  ladies  were— not  on 
board.     That  was  very  pleasant. 

They  had  changed  their  minds,  and  had  taken 
another  boat.  By  this  new  arrangement,  they  arrived 
in  the  evening.  As  we  were  sitting  to  tea,  the  hack 
drove  up  with  our  guests. 

"  It  is  too  bad,'^  said  Mrs.  Wood ;  "but  I'll  just  tell 
you  how  it  was." 

She  did,  to  my  entire  satisfaction.  She  is  im- 
mense in  straightening  a  crooked  programme.  She 
has    '*a  gift"  in  that  way;  most  ladies  have. 

"You  have  forgotten  to  introduce .'* 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


>/33.  lAl\?Y  J.  rlcLuis. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 1 9 

"  O,  I  beg  pardon.     Mary,  this  is  the  doctor.'* 

"  All  right,  so  far  as  it  goes  ;  but  who  is  Mary 
Annie  ?" 

''Why,  Mrs.  Hollis,  to  be  sure.  Didn't  I  write  to 
you  she  was  coming  ?" 

**  So  you  did.  Mrs.  Hollis,  I  am  glad  to  see  you, 
and  hope  you  may  have  a  pleasant  visit.  Take  off 
your  wrappings,  and  sit  up  to  the  table.  Tea  was 
announced  just  as  you  rang  the  bell." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  ladies  were  sociable,  lively 
as  crickets,  and  talkative  as  children. 

"Is  it  your  first  visit  to  Cincinnati?"  I  said, 
addressing  myself  to  Mrs.  Hollis. 

"No,  sir.  I  once  lived  in  this  city,  and  consider 
it  almost  my  native  place." 

"  O,  then,  you  are  not  a  stranger  here  .'*" 

"Well,  I  suppose  the  city  has  changed  a  great  deal 
in  fifteen  years,  so  that  it  has  outgrown  my  acquaint- 
ance to  some  extent ;  yet  I  am  not  wholly  a  stranger 
in  Cincinnati." 

"The  old  land-marks  remain;  still  you  will  find 
many  changes  have  taken  place  in  that  time.  Are 
you  a  native  of  Kentucky  ?" 

"No,  sir.  I  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  by  accident 
became  a  Hoosier." 

"  By  accident  ?  That  is  a  curious  way  to  speak  of 
a  natural  event." 

"Why,  at  the  best,  it  is  but  an  accident  where 
one  is  born.  In  1837,  it  so  happened  that  mother 
was  temporarily  residing  in  Jefferson ville,  and  so  I 
became  a  Hoosier.  If  my  mother  had  been  in  Cin- 
cinnati instead,  would  n't  I  have  been  a  Buckeye  V 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


I20  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

*' Certainly/' 
.  This  short  introductory  colloquy  will  show  that 
Mrs.  Hollis  is  not  a  simpering  sentimentalist.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  she  is  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren, none  of  whom  were  born  where  she  at  present 
resides.  As  she  will  be  a  conspicuous  character  in 
the  remaining  part  of  this  book,  this  seems  to  be  a 
proper  and  fitting  place  to  give  her  a  more  general 
introduction  to  the  reader.  She  was  born,  as  I  after- 
ward learned,  on  the  24th  of  April,  1837,  in  Jeffer- 
sonville,  Indiana,  of  wealthy  and  educated  parents. 
She  was  the  first-born  of  her  mother's  family,  and 
was  married,  I  believe,  in  her  seventeenth  year.  In 
her  early  childhood  she  was  slow  to  receive  a  school 
education  ;  and  was  an  exemplary  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  until  she  began  to  see  spirits  and 
talk  with  them.  When  this  occurred,  she  gradually 
lost  faith  in  the  gown  and  surplice,  and  ceased  to  be 
a  fashionable  worshiper.  With  a  spotless  reputation, 
she  has  taken  the  vows  of  dedicating  her  life  to  the 
service  of  the  spirit-world.  That  means  a  great  deal 
more  that  we  can  find  room  to  record  in  this  place. 
Of  her  personal  appearance  I  will  adduce  a  few 
pen-sketches,  delineating  her  ''face  and  form,"  by 
acknowledged  masters  in  the  graphic  art. 

Colonel  Don  Piatt,  the  widely-known  and  able 
editor  of  The  Capital,  presents  this  picture  of  the  lady 
in  question  : 

*'I  was  introduced  to  Mrs.  Hollis — quite  a  hand- 
some, dark-eyed  brunette,  weighing  about  a  hundred 
and  forty,  and  about  thirty-five  years  of  age.  She  is 
personally   attractive,   unassuming,    and    rather  diffi- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  121 

dent  After  her  personal  attractions,  the  chief  char- 
acteristic that  impressed  me  was  the  exceedingly  frank 
and  honest  expression  of  her  face.  A  judge  of  human 
nature  would  dismiss  all  suspicion  of  fraud,  after  tak- 
ing one  good  look  at  her  kind,  gentle  countenance." 

Another  distinguished  journalist,  F.  B.  Plimpton, 
Esq.,  a  leading  editor  on  the  Cinciimati  Commercial, 
who  investigated  spiritual  phenomena  in  Mrs.  Hollis's 
seances,  and  of  which  he  makes  able  reports  in  letters 
published  in  the  Commercial  and  Capital,  writes  per- 
sonally of  the  ^'medium  :" 

*'Mrs.  Hollis  is  of  middle  age,  but  looks  younger 
than  she  is  ;  of  good  form,  rather  stoutish  ;  has  lus- 
trous black  eyes  and  hair,  and  regular  and  pleasant 
features.  Her  manner  is  rather  retiring,  always  mod- 
est, as  that  of  a  cultivated,  sensitive  woman,  who  has, 
however,  been  enough  in  society  to  acquire  an  easy 
and  graceful  self-possession.  On  this  occasion  she 
was  dressed  \\\  a  light  morning-wrapper,  tastefully 
but  plainly  trimmed." 

Mr.  Reed,  the  chief  editor  of  the  Cincinnati  Ga- 
zette, saw  in  Mrs.  Hollis  only  ''a  demure  face  and 
soft  figure." 

Another  writer  in  the  Commercial  said  of  her : 
*'  She  is  a  woman  of  fine  appearance,  a  brunette,  with 
a  fine  head  of  dark  hair,  dark  eyes,  and  beautiful  face." 

Similar  sketches  could  be  multiplied  to  almost 
any  extent,  but  enough  has  been  given  to  furnish  the 
reader  with  a  general  idea  of  her  style.  The  ^\\q 
steel  engraving  will  do  the  rest. 

As  I  saw  Mrs.  Hollis  for  the  first  time  at  my 
tea-table,  and  in   my  parlor   during   the  evening,   I 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


122  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

discovered  her  to  be  a  woman  of  more  than  average 
intelligence,  7iot  diffident  of  speech,  apt  in  her  re- 
marks, and  quick  in  repartee. 

The  evening  was  passed  pleasantly,  and  in  con- 
versation no  allusion  whatever  was  made  to  spiritu- 
alism or  any  reference  to  her  mediumship.  Had  I 
not  been  previously  informed  that  she  was  a  spiritu- 
alist and  medium,  no  clew  would  have  been  furnished 
on  this  occasion  by  which  to  discover  either  fact. 

On  the  following  day  (Saturday),  I  accompanied 
the  ladies  while  they  made  their  purchases  among 
the  favshionable  shops  on  Fourth  Street.  It  was  not 
until  after  dinner  that  Mrs,  Wood  spoke  of  holding 
"a  dark  circle"  in  the  evening.  I  had  a  prejudice 
against  ''dark  circles,"  and  had  almost  vowed  never 
to  enter  another,  I  had  attended  two,  in  which  the 
Davenport  brothers  were  the  mediums,  and  they  had 
failed  to  strengthen  my  belief  in  spirit  communi- 
cation. To  be  sure,  I  had  heard  ''Johnny  King" 
talk  very  plainly.  The  guitar  was  carried  through 
the  air,  thrumming  as  it  floated  all  about  the  room.  ■ 
My  knee  had  been  touched  by  a  spirit-hand,  and  my 
handkerchief  had  been  tied  high  up  on  the  chande- 
lier, requiring  the  use  of  a  step-ladder  to  get  it  again ; 
still  I  thought  "some  things  could  be  done  as  well 
as  others,"  and  I  doubted.  To  some  extent  I  shared 
Mr.  Davis's  opinions  of  dark  circles,*  and  concluded 

*  "  Except  for  scientific  investigation — that  is,  to  test  the  delicacy 
and  wondrous  power  of  spirits  over  natural  things — it  will  be  found  that 
*dark  circles'  are  valueless  and  injurious.  As  means  of  carrying  con- 
viction to  the  skeptical  mind,  the  lightless  sessions  amount  simply  to 
this  :  persons  by  such  evidences  usually  require  periodical  repetition, 
of  'facts'  to  keep  their  night-encompassed  faith  from  languishing." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRlTUALTSI^.  123 

if  Mrs.  Hollis's  spirit  manifestations  can  only  be 
produced  in  a  dark  room,  that  at  the  best  her  me- 
diumship  is  no  better  than  that  of  the  charlatans 
noticed  in  a  preceding  chapter.  To  be  frank  on  this 
matter,  I  had  been  the  witness  of  so  many  worthless 
"manifestations"  claiming  to  be  produced  either  by 
the  spirits  direct,  or  through  their  agency,  that  it 
was  as  much  as  I  could  do  to  retain  faith  in  the  real 
facts  I  had  gathered  up  after  years  of  tireless  pains- 
taking. The  proposition  to  hold  a  "dark  circle"  was 
not,  therefore,  entirely  congenial  to  my  way  of  think- 
ing, and  I  only  gave  consent  to  join  it  that  I  might 
fulfill  the  perfect  law  of  hospitality  by  pleasing  my 
guests. 

"  Certainly,"  I  said,  "  we  will  have  a  dark  circle, 
if  Mrs.  Hollis  feels  like  it." 

A  simple  inclination  of  the  head  was  the  only 
assent  she  gave. 

It  was  an  ingenuous  reply  to  my  doubt,  and 
placed  the  whole  responsibility  of  holding  the  circle 
or  not  upon  my  own  election. 

I  was  in  hopes  by  evening  time  the  medium 
would  be  found  with  a  "distressing  headache,"  or 
"so  much  fatigued  that  we  would  please  excuse  her," 
or  that  "she  was  too  nervous  to  go  into  the  dark 
room."  I  was  quite  willing  to  excuse  her  on  either 
of  those  pleas,  or  any  other  that,  in  the  goodness  of 
her  heart,  she  might  think  of  making  ;  but  to  my  utter 
discomfiture,  not  to  put  it  in  any  stronger  terms, 
she  offered  no  such  paltry  plea,  nor  claimed  exon- 
eration for  any  reason.  I  was  on  the  point  of  excus- 
ing myself  from  being  present  by  pleading  a  prior 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


124  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

engagement,  but  was  in  trouble  how  to  shape  one 
that  would  not  betray  my  duplicity.  I  was  not  a 
member  of  any  ^Modge/'  ^Meague,"  ''club/'  or  "soci- 
ety," choir,  or  prayer-meeting ;  and  could  not  even 
claim  to  be  a  sympathetic  member  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  for  the  prevention  of 
cruelty  to  animals  ;  and  so,  in  utter  despair,  I  said, 
**  Certainly,  we  will  have  a  dark  circle,  if  Mrs.  Hollis 
feels  like  it!" 

Justice  requires  that  I  should  state  that  I  had  no 
special  reason  for  this  disinclination  to  enter  a  dark 
circle.  It  was  on  the  general  principle  that  I  had 
no  confidence  in  any  thing  claiming  to  be  spirit  man- 
ifestations, enacted  in  the  dark.  The  dark  circle 
enveloped  the  mind  in  doubt  and  mystery.  It  could 
offer  no  convincing  proof  to  my  understanding  like 
the  information  of  the  eye.  The  ear  is  a  good  re- 
porter of  facts,  but  the  eye  is  better.  "What  com- 
munion hath  light  with  darkness,'*  that  we  should 
ignore  the  use  of  the  most  important  one  of  the  five 
senses  } 

I  had  ceased  to  take  any  interest  in  spirit  mani- 
festations after,  as  I  supposed,  I  had  witnessed  the 
whole  range  of  spirit  phenomena,  ten,  fifteen,  twenty 
years  before.  It  was  not  congenial  to  my  tastes  to 
go  over  the  old  trodden  ground  again,  excepting  to 
revive  old  associations;  and  these  had  not  been  pleas- 
ant in  the  dark  circle.  This  was  the  churlish  view 
I  took  of  Mrs.  Wood's  proposition. 

I  might  have  omitted  all  this  confession  of  qualms 
with  entire  propriety.  I  know  this;  but  it  comes 
within-  the  line  of  my  duty  to  journalize  all  the  facts 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 25 

that  have  any  bearing  on  the  extraordinary  manifes- 
tations it  is  my  province  to  record  in  this  vohmie. 
It  gives  me  no  concern  how  I  may  personally  appear 
to  the  reader :  I  am  here  as  a  witness  to  testify  to 
the  truth.     That  is  all. 

It  was  only  intimated  that  the  spirits  might  speak 
in  the  dark  circle.  Nothing  was  said  about  the 
length  of  time  they  would  speak,  how  loud  they 
would  talk,  nor  were  any  particulars  given  that  might 
have  added  interest  to  the  occasion.  The  trumpet, 
too,  had  been  spoken  of  What  part  was  it  to  play 
in  the  dark.^  I  could  not  tell,  and  it  was  hazardous 
to  guess.  I  decided  to  await  developments,  and, 
meanwhile,  to  scrutinize  closely  all  "manifestations" 
which  came  under  such  suspicious  circumstances. 

After  tea,  the  ladies  felt  rested  and  refreshed,  and 
did  not  complain  a  bit  of  **  headache"  or  "fatigue." 
So,  under  instruction,  I  proceeded  to  darken  the  room 
by  draping  the  windows.  The  room  selected  by  me 
was  about  sixteen  feet  square,  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  back  building,  immediately  over  the  dining- 
room. 

Five  adult  persons,  including  my  two  guests,  en- 
tered this  room  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
four  of  whom  took  seats  in  front  of  Mrs.  Hollis's  chair, 
which  was  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  arranged 
in  the  form  of  a  semi-ellipse.  The  horn  was  placed 
on  end,  about  midway  between  the  medium  and  the 
circle,  and  could,  by  a  mischievous  prompting  of  the 
mind,  and  an  inclination  of  the  body,  be  reached  by 
any  one  of  us.  "I  liked  not  that."  The  light  was 
now   extinguished,   and  surely  ancient   Night   never 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


126  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

presided  with  more  "  ray  less  majesty"  over  Chaos  than 
it  now  did  in  our  presence.     No  "  pitying  ray  '*  pene- 
trated  crevice,    crack,    or   corner,  to    ^'lighten  or  to 
cheer."      There   was   an   ''awful   pause"   of  silence, 
until   Mrs.  Wood  began    to  sing   "The    Ever-green 
Hills,"  and  I  heartily  wished  myself  on  them.     Any 
place  but  here,  I  thought;  when,  as  if  catching  the 
impression  of  my  mind,  Mrs.  Hollis  asked  : 
**  Doctor,  what  kind  of  a  place  is  this?" 
''Very  oppressive  and  dark,  Mrs.  Hollis." 
'*  I  need  not   be  told  that ;  but  what  kind  of  a 
room  is  this  ?" 

"A  square  room,  as  you  saw;  but  why  do  you 
ask  r 

"Because  it  is  full  of  sick  spirits." 

"Do  spirits  get  sick.?"  I  asked. 

"  I  suppose  so,  for  the  room  is  full  of  them." 

"What   do  they   complain  of,  and  how  do  they 

look  r 

"They  seem  to  be  only  skin  and  bone.  They 
cough  and  spit  in  the  most  sickening  manner.  I 
never  saw  any  thing  like  this  before." 

"  Can  you  ascertain,  Mrs.  Hollis,  why  these  spirits 
come  here  ?" 

"  No !  There  is  a  physician  among  them,  who 
is  prescribing  for  their  relief.  I  am  impressed  to  say 
he  is  a  Frenchman.  He  has  approached  you  several 
times,  and  placed  his  hands  over  your  head  and 
along  your  back,  and  then  on  corresponding  parts 
of  the  sick  person.  When  he  does  this,  it  seems 
to  revive  them,  and  they  look  more  cheerful  and 
encouraged." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 2  ^ 

"Do  you  not  feel  his  hands  touch  you,  Doctor?"^" 

**No.     I  can't  say  that  I  do." 

**  O,  heavens !  he  is  going  to  lay  a  sick  person  on 
my  lap.  I'll  not  allow  it.  Open  the  door,  quick; 
let  me  out !  I  won't  remain  here  another  minute.  I 
must  get  out  of  this  place  ;"  and,  with  a  spring,  the 
affrighted  medium  caught  the  latch,  and  opened 
wide  the  door. 

When  we  returned  to  the  parlor,  her  face  wore 
the  expression  of  fear,  with  the  pallor  of  death.  She 
seemed  to  be  almost  terror-stricken,  and  for  a  few 
minutes  unable  to  utter  a  word.  When  sufficiently 
collected,  she  apologized  for  her  *'  nervousness,"  and 
then  asked :  "  What  kind  of  a  room  is  that }  It 
is  full  of  sick  people,  and  they  seem  to  use  it  as  a 
hospital." 

"  O,  that's  my  consulting-room.  It  is  in  that 
room  I  examine  sick  people.  You  are  aware,  Mrs. 
Hollis,  that  I  am  a  medical  specialist,  and  devote  my 

*  "  In  all  ages  of  the  world,"  says  a  great  writer,  "  these  truths  [the 
laymg  on  of  hands  and  magnetic  manifestations]  have  been  recognized 
and  applied  to  the  sick  and  the  suffering,  There  have  lived  many 
individuals  whose  physical  and  spiritual  constitutions  pre-eminently 
qualified  them  to  exert  a  powerful  influence  on  the  body  and  mind  of 
others,  even  to  the  working  of  miracles  and  curing  the  lame  and  pal- 
sied. But  while  the  ancients  employed  the  indwelling  virtue  (or  mag- 
netism) in  the  curing  of  diseases,  they  unfortunately  believed  that 
human  diseases  were  caused  by  wicked  spirits  or  devils,  and  though 
Swedenborg  regarded  this  superstition  as  a  truth,  of  which  the  world 
in  those  days  had  manifold  evidences,  yet  I  am  impressed  to  regard  it 
as  a  great  obstacle  to  the  manifestation  of  pure  and  important  princi- 
ples. And  I  think  that  even  yet  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  are  too 
much  under  the  control  of  ignorance  and  superstition  to  understand 
the  higher  truths  of  psychological  science.  It  is  ignorance  and  false 
education  that  cause  the  human  mind  to  manufacture  a  personal  devil, 
and  to  build  for  him  a  fiery  abode  of  vast  dimensions." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


128  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

attention  exclusively  to  the  treatment  of  thoracic  dis- 
eases ?  Did  you  not  know  this?  Has  Annie  not 
told  you  all  about  it  ?"  I  asked,  inquiringly,  to  try  to 
get  a  clew  to  the  real  source  of  her  startling  sight- 
seeing in  the  dark. 

Mrs.  Hollis  answered :  "  I  never  heard  of  your 
special  practice  until  this  minute.  Annie  has  told 
me  you  were  a  physician,  but  never,  I  believe,  has 
she  intimated  that  your  practice  was  special  in  its 
character." 

I  was  incredulous  ;  and  yet  there  was  so  much 
frankness  in  her  statement,  and  so  little  apparent 
motive  for  deception  or  fraud  in  the  matter,  that  I 
was  mystified  ;  and  so  I  made  a  diversion  in  the  line 
of  thought  by  asking  :  '*  What  of  the  horn  }  We  have 
overlooked  it  in  the  scare.  What  did  you  intend  to 
do  with  the  horn,  Mrs.  Hollis  Y' 

''  The  spirits  talk  through  the  trumpet." 

"Do  they  entrance  you  when  you  speak  through 
the  horn  .-*" 

"  O  no  !  they  use  the  trumpet  themselves." 

"  But  you  mean  that  you  speak  for  the  spirits 
through  the  trumpet,  when  entranced  V 

*' I  mean  no  such  thing,  sir.  It  is  just  as  I  say: 
the  spirit  puts  the  trumpet  to  its  mouth,  and  speaks 
through  it,  just  as  you  would." 

"Why,  I  never  heard  of  such  a  thing!" 

"  And  because  you  have  not,  you  seem  to  doubt 
its  possibility." 

"  No :  I  hope  I  have  too  much  modesty  to  say 
what  is  possible  and  what  is  not.  Can  you  hear 
them  speak  distinctly.'*" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 29 

"As  you  hear  me  now." 

''And  can  you  talk  back  to  them  ?  Can  you  hold 
a  free  conversation  with  them  V 

"Certainly.     Why  not?" 

"Nay,  I   know   not  why;    but   will   they   answer' 
me  ?" 

"  If  you  give  them  a  chance,  and  they  have  the 
power  and  inclination  to  do  so." 

"Ay:  that's  the  rub.  How  will  I  know  whether 
they  have  the  power  and  inclination  ?" 

"  In  the  same  way  you  would  make  a  similar 
discovery  when  talking  to  spirits  in  the  form." 

"  Do   they  stand  upon  ceremony — -pmtctilio  f" 

"  Do  you  not  T 

"3ut  a  spirit  T 

"Is  only  the  real  man  or  woman  out  of  the 
flesh  r 

"Yes:  that  is  true;  but  why  do  they  speak 
through  a  horn,  Mrs.  Hollis  ?  Why  not,  if  they 
possess  organs  of  speech,  speak  without  the  horn  .?" 

"The  spirits  say  the  horn  enables  them  to  con- 
centrate their  power,  to  focalize  the  waves  of  sound. 
You  know  how  that  is." 

"  Do  they  ever  try  to  speak  without  using  the 
trumpet  ?" 

"Yes:  and  some  spirits  succeed;  but  the  sound 
is  always  very  feeble,  in  comparison  to  what  it  is 
when  spoken  through  the  trumpet.  There  is  an 
Indian  spirit  that  can  be  heard,  when  he  speaks,  in 
any  part  of  the  house,  without  using  the  horn." 

"  How  does  it  happen  that  he  can  speak  so  loud 
and  not  use  the  horn?" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


130  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"  He  is  an  Indian,  and  they  are  found,  as  a 
general  rule,  to  have  more  power  to  manifest  than 
other  spirits.  Then,  again,  he  has  been  in  the  spirit- 
world  so  long  that  he  has  completely  outlived  most 
of  the  infirmities  of  his  natural  life;  besides,  he  is 
almost  a  giant  in  stature,  and  possesses  more  strength 
than  we  find  ordinarily  among  men." 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  such  distinctions  existed 
in  the  spirit-world." 

"Have  you  given  the  subject  any  thought  ?" 

*'I  have  not,  and  that  is  the  cause  of  rny  igno- 
rance.    Have  you  seen  this  Indian,  Mrs.  HoUis  V 

"A  thousand  times  ;  he  is  now  beside  you,  taking 
notice  of  every  thing  you  say." 

"I  should  like  to  know  what  he  thinks." 

"  Perhaps  not." 

"  Well,  I  mean  I  would  like  to  hear  a  spirit 
talk  on  a  subject  that  I  was  personally  interested  in. 
Do  you  ever  hold  any  controversy  with  them  ?  or 
simply  listen  to  what  they  say  V 

"They  talk  just  as  you  would,  observing  all 
the  proprieties  of  speech  and  general  amenities  be- 
longing to  polite  conversation.  If  you  can  instruct 
them  in  any  way,  they  will  allow  you  ample  time  to 
present  your  information.  As  a  general  thing,  how- 
ever, you  will  find  more  pleasure  in  listening  to  them 
than  in  hearing  yourself  speak.  The  Indian  is  very 
interesting  to  most  people." 

"  Does  he  speak  often  T 

"  Yes :  he  belongs  to  the  band  that  claim  me  as 
their  medium.  He  can  speak  when  others  can,  not. 
He  assists  others  to  speak." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 3 1 

**Does  he  still  wear  Indian  toggery  ?" 

*'Yes:  his  head  decorated  with  feathers,  and 
a  mixed  costume  of  blankets,  skins,  and  ornaments.'* 

"  To  what  tribe  or  nation  did  he  belong  ?" 

"  He  was  a  chief  of  the  Cherokees,  whose  hunt- 
ing-grounds, in  his  time,'  embraced  the  states  of 
Florida,  Alabama,  Georgia,  and  Mississippi." 

"Does  his  name  appear  in  history?" 

"I  do  not  know.     He  gives  it  as  Skiwatikee'' 

"I'm  sorry,  Mrs.  Hollis,  I  did  not  select  some 
other  room  for  the  dark  circle.  Would  it  be  too  late 
to  try  another  room  to-night  T' 

"As  you  please,"  she  replied. 

"Yes,  we  will,"  said  Mrs.  Wood.  "We'll  try 
again  in  another  room." 

Accordingly,  we  all  went  into  a  spare  room,  and 
re-formed  the  circle  just  as  it  had  been  in  the  con- 
sulting-room. The  trumpet  was  in  its  place,  as  in 
the  first  circle. 

The  lights  had  been  extinguished  but  a  few  min- 
utes, when  Mrs.  Hollis  said  :  "  That  French  doctor 
has  followed  us  with  the  sick  spirit !  If  he  attempts 
to  come  near  me,  I  will  leave  the  room.  I  don't 
know  what  he  means.  He  talks,  but  I  can  not 
understand  what  he  says." 

This  declaration  of  the  spirited  lady  seemed  to 
have  the  desired  effect.  The  presence  of  the  physi- 
cian and  patient. was  no  more  complained  of. 

I  subsequently  learned  in  regard  to  this  matter, 
that  persons  who  die  with  exhausting  diseases  con- 
tinue to  be  feeble  for  some  time  after  they  enter  the 
spirit-world,  and   that   they  are  frequently  brought 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


132  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

into  the  presence  of  healthy  persons,  from  whom 
they  inhale  or  absorb  elements  of  health  and  strength, 
by  which  their  wasted  energies  are  restored.  This 
operation  would  seem  to  exhibit  the  value  of  human 
magnetism  to  spirits  as  well  as  mortals,  as  a  remedial 
agent.^" 

The  philosophy  of  this  treatment  is  to  equalize 
magnetic  conditions.  Disease  is  superinduced  by  an 
excess  or  deficiency  of  this  nervo-vital  emanation  from 
our  bodies.  Old  persons  rob  the  young  of  it,  when 
they  sleep  together.  The  sick  rob  the  healthy,  when 
sustaining  similar  relations.  The  principle  under  con- 
sideration is,  the  ground-work  of  temperamental  phys- 
iology, which  determines  compatibilities  in  all  social 
relations.  One  person's  touch  and  power  will  '*  sus- 
tain and  soothe"  you  as  a  blessing.  Another's  will 
feel  like  a  vampire  and  a  curse. 

It  is  a  new  thought  to  my  mind,  this  furnishing 
a  supply  of  elemental  health  for  the  use  of  sick 
spirits.  May  not  the  spirit-doctor  sometimes  take 
too  much,  and  leave  us  in  that  exhausted  state  pecu- 
liar to  typhoid  and  low-conditioned  fevers  ?  May  not 
that  large  class  of  diseases,  which  are  said  to  arise — 
de  7iovo—'n\  the  human  system,  and  for  the  origin  of 
which  our  ablest   etiologists  are    unable  to  account, 

*"  Every  human  soul,"  says  Mr.  Davis  in  Vol.  I,  page  286,  of 
tlie  "Great  Harnionia,"  "is  surrounded  with  an  atmosphere  more  or 
]ess  pure  and  influential.  This  atmosphere  is  an  emanation  from  the 
indivicUial,  just  as  flowers  exhale  their  fragrance.  In  consequence  of 
this  pure  and  inestimaljle  endowment,  or  rather  the  result  of  the 
organization,  the  soul  can  and  will  exert  a  favorable  or  unfavorable 
influence  upon  contiguous  individuals,  but  always  in  proportion  to 
their  approximation  to  the  reciprocal  state  of  positive  and  negative 
relations." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 3 3 

be  traced  to  this  cause?  Don't  answer  hastily,  I 
beg  of  you,  but  think  over  the  proposition  seriously. 
There  may  be  more  in  it  than  at  first  seems. 

But  to  return  to  the  circle-room.  After  a  short 
pause  in  the  conversation,  Mrs.  Wood  again  sang  a 
verse  of  a  familiar  song,  and  at  the  conclusion  I 
heard  distinctly  a  succession  of  sounds,  such  as  could 
be  made  with  the  lips  by  blowing  in  the  horn.  They 
were  crisp  and  explosive,  like  blowing  in  water 
through  a  straw.  Mrs.  Hollis  and  Mrs.  Wood  said 
they  were  spirit- voices,  but  I  could  not  recognize 
any  articulate  words  as  they  seemed  to  do.  It  might 
have  been  all  right,  and  it  might  have  been  all  wrong. 
I  thought  it  best  to  hold  my  opinion  in  abeyance,  for 
a  short  time  at  least.  After  several  attempts  of  this 
kind,  I  did  hear  a  voice  say  in  a  half-smothered  whis- 
per, ^^We  can  not  talk  to-night;  the  conditions  <ure 
very  bad!' 

*'  Did  you  hear  that.  Doctor  T  said  Mrs.  Wood. 

"  O  yes  :  I  heard  that !     What  was  it  T 

**  Why,  a  spirit,  you  goose !  Did  n't  you  hear 
it  say,  *  The  conditions  are  very  bad ;  we  can  not 
talk  to  night  r  '' 

"I  heard  it ;  but  why  does  it  say  so  when  it  was 
talking  all  the  time  ?" 

"  O,  but  you're  smart !  You  do  n't  believe  it  was  a 
spirit  spoke  at  all.  You'll  soon  get  out  of  that  con- 
ceit, my  chappy,"  said  Mrs.  Wood,  with  animation. 

"I  hope  so;   but  I  guess  we  had  better  light  the 

gas,  if  they  can't  talk  any  more.     Blessed  be  light! 

What   a    relief   after    an    hour    in    darkness  —  utter 

darkness !" 

14 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


134  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

The  horn  had  been  slightly  moved  out  of  its 
place,  nearer  the  medium  ;  but,  with  that  exception, 
no  change  had  taken  place  in  any  of  the  appoint- 
ments of  the  room. 

Well,  what  do  you  think  of  it?  I  asked  myself,  as 
soon  as  I  had  time  to  gather  my  thoughts.  The  best 
conclusion  to  which  I  could  come  was,  that  Mrs.  Hollis 
might  be  a  mental  phenomenalist,  and,  being  in  the 
dark,  I  could  not  tell  whether  she  spoke  through  the 
horn  with  her  eyes  open  or  shut,  nor  did  it  make 
much  difference  to  me  which.  As  a  spirit  seance^  I 
was  less  perplexed  in  my  opinions  ;  it  had  been  a 
signal  failure.  Even  as  a  source  of  entertainment 
and  merry-making,  it  could  by  no  means  be  construed 
into  a  success,  I  could  see  nothing  in  it,  not  even 
the  point  of  a  joke.  It  was  too  dark.  The  situation 
afforded  a  splendid  opportunity,  however  for  indulg- 
ing in  any  amount  of  quiet  mirth.  That  was  the 
advantage  of  the  dark  circle;  only  this,  and  nothing 
more. 

But  what  about  the  spirits  ? 

O,  bother  the  spirits!  They  could  n*t  talk  that 
evening.  Did  n't  you  hear  them  say  the  conditions 
were  too  bad  ?  That's  all  I  know  about  them.  Those 
who  know  more,  let  them  speak.     We'll  adjourn. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 3  J 


CHAPTER  VIII, 

SLATE-WRITING  — STARTLING  COMMUNICATIONS  — 
MOTHER  ANNOUNCES  HERSELF  IN  A  DARK  CIR- 
CLE—JAMES NOLAN  SPEAKS  FOR  HER— A  REMARK- 
ABLE  TEST   BY  SKIWAUKEE— HOW  I  WAS   NAMED. 

AT  the  breakfast-table  next  morning,  Mrs.  Wood 
said:  ''Isn't  it  funny,  Doctor,  that  you  should 
have  visitors  all  the  way  from  kingdom-come,  to  be 
doctored  ?'* 

''It  is  rather  a  strange  conceit.*' 

''  Conceit  T 

"  At  the  best,  what  else  is  it  ?'* 

"  See  here,  my  old  chappy,  you  used  to  take  a 
great  deal  of  interest  in  spiritualism.  Now,  I  want 
to  know  if  you  have  gone  back  on  it  ?" 

"  What  kind,  Annie  .?" 

'*  Did  you  ever  !  What  a  question  to  ask  a  lady  ! 
'What  kind?'" 

"  You  have  it  exactly  !" 

''Well,  now,  Master  Nep,  just  tell  me  how  many 
kinds  of  spiritualism  you  know  of." 

"Two!" 

"  Please  state  them,  like  a  good  boy." 

"  Yes,  ma'am  ;  the  true  and  the  false." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  >  Explain  yourself 
squarely." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


136  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"  By  that,  I  mean  that  spiritual  manifestations  in 
the  light  are  more  to  be  relied  on  tlian  those  which 
take  place  in  the  dark!' 

*'  Didn't  you  hear  the  spirits  talk  last  night  T 

"  I  suspect  I  did  !" 

**  You  suspect  yoic  did!  Well,  that  is  cool !  O,  I 
see  how  it  is  !  You  suspect  either  Mrs.  Hollis  or 
myself  as  representing  the  spirits  !" 

**  Annie  !" 

"  Yes,  you  do  ;  do  n't  deny  it." 

*'  Why  will  you  embarrass  me  ?" 

"  Fiddlesticks  1  I  just  want  to  tell  you  one  thing, 
that  you  were  never  more  mistaken  in  your  life." 

''  Mistaken  ?" 

"  Yes,  when  you  suspect  that  we  have  been  trying 
to  impose  on  your  good-nature." 

*'  How  you  talk  !" 

*'You  don't  believe  the  manifestations  last  night 
were  genuine,  and  I  know  it." 

"Did  I  say  so.?" 

''  Not  in  words,  but  in  tones,  looks,  shoulder- 
shrugs,  and  pantomimes." 

**  You  read  closely." 

"  Accurately." 

''Well,  well,  now  that  you  have  unriddled  me,  let 
us  change  the  subject.  Will  we  go  to  the  St.  Paul's 
to-day  1  You  will  see  the  most  lovely  church  and 
the  latest  styles  at  the  same  time." 

*'As  we  are  going  home   to-morrow,  Mrs.   Hollis 
will  give  you    some    slate-writing  to-day,   instead  of 
going  to  church." 
'  *'  Some  what  V 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 3  7 

**  Slate-writing !" 

"  I  beg  pardon  ;  but  I  do  not  understand  you." 

"Why,  don't  you  know  that  Mrs.  Mollis  is  a 
writing-medium  ?" 

*'  I  was  not  aware  of  it.  Are  you  a  writing- 
medium,  Mrs.  HoUis  ?" 

*'  It  seems  so  !" 

**  Only  seems  f 

**  Of  that  you  must  be  the  judge.  Have  you  a 
slate.?" 

**  Won't  paper  do  as  well  ?'* 

"A  slate  will  do  better!" 

I  scanned  her  face  closely  to  find  the  faintest 
trace  of  the  "putty"  medium's  infatuation  ;  but  I  could 
not  discern  it,  if  she  had  any.  Her  features  were 
in  entire  repose,  and  made  no  revelation  of  such  a 
weakness.  It  was  an  affliction  I  would  have  cheer- 
fully escaped,  had  there  been  any  way  of  retreat  with- 
out grossly  violating  the  proprieties  of  hospitality. 
I  thought  over  the  suggestion  for  a  minute  or  two, 
and  mentally  complained  that  my  mission  was  so 
unpleasant.  "Here,"  I  said  to  myself,  "is  another 
hallucination,  and  if  it  had  been  presented  in  some 
other  than  my  own  house,  I  would  explode  it  with 
pleasure.  But  it  makes  a  difference  when  those 
who  are  under  your  own  roof  are  to  be  rebuked. 
They  have  a  claim  upon  your  protection  so  long  as 
they  are  your  guests.  No  matter  what  personal  in- 
firmities may  afflict  them,  the  law  of  hospitality 
requires  them  to  be  treated  with  tenderness  and  for- 
bearance. Still,  there  is  another  view  to  be  taken  of 
the  subject,  which  is  quite  as  legitimate  as  the  one 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


138  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

presented.  The  guest  is  the  recipient  of  favor,  and  it 
is  not  only  an  infraction  of  the  law  of  hospitality,  but 
unjust  to  repay  kindness  with  ingratitude  and  injury. 
Why  should  this  attempt  be  made  to  deceive  me.? 
*'Well,  rU  humor  your  inclination,"  I  thought;  *'but 
it  will  bring  trouble  on  your  head.  If  your  writing 
is  as  much  a  fizzle  as  your  dark  circle,  I  will  speak 
of  it  as  it  merits  ;  no  more  forbearance.  Won  't  she 
hate  me  for  it }  Her  suppressed  rage  will  give  a  flam- 
ing brilliancy  to  those  Movely  eyes,'  and  how  piti- 
lessly she  will  sacrifice  my  'good  name'  to  her 
resentments.  If  you  will  expose  yourself  to  criticism, 
*  Barkis  is  willin  ,'  go  ahead." 

"  Do  you  write  by  impression,  Mrs.  HoUis,  or  are 
you  controlled  by  the  spirit  to  write.?"  I  asked,  with 
a  view  of  "drawing  fire,"  that  I  might  learn  her 
position  exactly. 

**  Neither,"  she  replied. 

"  I  am  not  acquainted  with  any  other  methods  by 
which  spirits  write  through  media." 

"No!  you  have  a  slight  misapprehension  of  my 
mediumship." 

"  In  what  particular,  Mrs.  Hollis  T 

''  In  supposing  the  spirits  use  my  organization  in 
any  perceptible  manner  when  they  write  or  speak." 

"  When  they  write  or — " 

"Yes  :  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  and  yet  my 
presence  seems  to  be  necessary." 

*^I  do  not  understand  you,  Mrs.  Hollis.  What 
you  say — " 

"  Is  a  truth  for  those  who  can  comprehend  it,  and 
an  extravagance  for  those  who  can  not." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  139 

"Well,  but  don't  you  do  the  writing  with  your 
own  hand?'* 

"  Bless  you,  no  ;  the  spirits  do  the  writing." 

''  But  you  hold  the  pencil,  do  you  not  r 

"  I  do  not  touch  the  pencil." 

"  Who  does  r 

*'If  it  be  not  the  spirits,  I  can  not  tell." 

*'But  spirits  have  no  hands?'' 

"  Perhaps  they  write  with  their  wings." 

**  O,  that's  an  absurdity," 

"  Which  ?" 

"  Your  suggestion  of  wings!' 

"O,  I  thought  it  was  your  suggestion  of  armless 
spirits.  To  be  serious,  how  can  they  hold  a  pencil 
and  write,  without  the  possession  and  use  of  hands  ?" 

"  But  do  they  hold  the  pencil  and  write  without 
your  assistance  ?" 

"  I  have  told  you  I  do  not  touch  the  pencil.  All 
I  do  is  to  hold  the  slate  under  the  table  while  the 
writing  takes  place." 

"  Under  the  table  ?  Why  under  the  table  ?  Why 
not  lay  the  slate  on  the  top  of  the  table,  where  we 
can  see  it  ?" 

''  I  fear  I  can  not  answer  you  in  a  satisfactory  man- 
ner, as  I  do  not  really  understand  why  it  can  not  be 
done.  Those  who  witness  the  writing  have  different 
theories  as  to  the  way  it  is  produced,  but  all  agree  in 
ascribing  its  execution  to  an  intelligence  independent 
of  myself." 

''  But  what  is  your  theory  ?" 

"I  have  a  habit  to  first  exhibit  the  manifestation ; 
and  afterward  to  offer  no  theory^  but  the  fact." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


140  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"You  are  level,  Mrs.  Hollis.  That  is  a  safe  rule. 
*The  smartest  woman  in  America'  could  not  do  bet- 
ter than  that.  Observe  that  rule,  and  you  will  never 
get  into  trouble.  Your  prudence  is  worthy  of  com- 
mendation. People  like  to  make  their  own  discover- 
ies. First  give  the  fact,  then  the  theory.  Now,  let  me 
see!     You  want  a  slate  and  pencil;  and  what  else?" 

'*A  small  table,  with  a  plain  top,  and  a  shawl  to 
throw  over  it." 

**  And  a  dark  room  ?"  I  suggested. 

"Not  a  bit  of  it!" 

"  In  a  light  room  T 

"Certainly." 

"Tm  glad  of  that.  I  like  to  see  things.  Will 
that  little  work-stand  answer  for  the  table?" 

"It's  the  very  thing.  And  bring  that  shawl  that 
lies  on  the  piano.  Now  give  me  the  slate  and  pencil. 
All  right.  Here  they  go,  under  the  table.  Look  how 
I  hold  the  slate.  It  rests  upon  the  four  fingers  of  my 
right-hand,  the  thumb  making  the  steady  pressure  on 
the  top.  You  discover  there  is  no  place  to  rest  the 
slate  upon,' and  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  handle 
the  slate  and  pencil  both  so  as  to  execute  any  writing 
on  the  former.  You  see,  I  sit  apart  from  the  table, 
with  no  part  of  my  person  in  contact  with  it  or  under 
it,  excepting  the  hand  holding  the  slate.  Now  the 
arrangements  will  be  complete  as  soon  as  you  spread 
that  worsted  shawl  over  the  table.  Let  it  hang  down 
all  round,  as  far  as  it  will  reach.  My  hand  is  under 
the  table,  holding  the  slate.  You  perceive  my  wrist 
and  arm  are  exposed.  Now,  if  you  can  see  the  faint- 
est motion  of  either,  to  give  you  the  slightest  suspi- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  141 

cion  that  I  do  the  writing,  speak  of  it.    Now,  what  do 
you  expect  T 

"  To  sit  here  until  doomsday,  if  I  am  to  wait  until 
the  spirits  write  on  that  slate/* 

*'  I  hope  not,"  was  the  only  reply  made  to  my 
faithless  remark. 

It  was  only  a  few  minutes  until  I  heard  something, 
a  tiny  noise,  like  the  faint  ''  nibble  of  a  mousie.''  It 
proceeded  from  under  the  table,  and  I  called  Mrs. 
Hollis's  attention  to  it. 

"  They  are  writing !"  she  said,  with  as  much  com- 
posure as  if  it  were  not  the  most  extraordinary  thing 
I  had  ever  heard  of. 

"Who  are  writing.?'* 

"  The  spirits,"  she  said. 

There  was  a  full  light  in  the  room.  I  watched 
the  wrist  and  arm  belonging  to  the  hand  under  the 
table,  and  there  was  not  the  slightest  twitch  of  a 
muscle  or  tendon,  to  indicate  any  movement  of  the 
fingers.  This  friction  continued  several  minutes, 
when  a  succession  of  raps,  as  if  with  the  end  of  the 
pencil  on  the  slate,  signified  the  conclusion  of  the 
writing. 

The  slate  was  now  withdrawn  from  under  the 
table,  and,  without  examining  it  particularly,  Mrs. 
Hollis  handed  it  to  me,  saying :  "  I  guess  the  writing 
is  for  you !" 

The  upper    half    of  the  slate  was  covered  with 

writing.     The  letters  were  well    formed,   the  words 

•accurately  spelled,  and  the  sentences  grammatically 

constructed.     The  reader  will  have  an  opportunity  to 

judge  of  the  merits  of  the  composition. 

15 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


142  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

The  writing  was  executed  in  parallel  lines  across 
the  slate,  about  the  same  distance  apart  as  ordinary 
ruled  lines  on  common  letter-paper.  The  part  of  the 
slate  upon  which  the  writing  appeared  was  most 
remote  from  Mrs.  Hollis^s  hand.  The  fingers  could 
not  reach  the  writing  by  several  inches,  and  had  the 
slate  been  shifted,  the  writing  would  have  been  made 
upside  down,  or  she  must  have  possessed  power  to 
write  under  very  disabling  circumstances  in  this  most 
difficult  manner.  A  careful  scrutiny  of  the  situation 
enables  me  to  say  that  it  was  physically  impossible 
for  Mrs.  Hollis  to  do  the  writing. 

Much  as  I  was  perplexed  with  the  writing,  when  I 
came  to  read  the  communication  apart  from  its  mys- 
terious origin,  I  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  find  the 
name  of  a  sister,  long  since  dead,  attached  to  it.  As 
the  note  is  of  general  interest,  no  apology  is  offered 
for  presenting  it  to  the  reader.     It  was  as  follows  : 

"My  Dear  Brother,— Every  day  furnishes  some  new 
testimony  to  establish  the  great  truth  that  individual  life  does 
not  terminate  when  death  takes  place.  Life  is  a  progressive 
lesson  which  all  must  learn  ;  and  death  is  but  an  event  which 
passes  the  individual  into  a  higher  'grade'  of  being,  whether 
he  be  matured  and  quahfied  for  preferment  or  not.  This  is  uni- 
versally known  in  the  spirit-world,  and  many  in  the  natural 
world  already  comprehend  the  same  truth.  A  band  of  pro- 
gressed spirits  have  surrounded  this  medium,  to  teach  this 
glorious  lesson  to  the  world.  They  are  mostly  French.  It  is 
intended  that  you  shall  render  assistance  in  this  great  work. 
Mother  and  I  are  often  with  you,  and  impress  you  when  we 
can.  Emma  Francis." 

''  Has  the  doctor  got  a  flea  in  his  ear  T  said  Mrs. 
Wood,  in  her  quizzical  way.  ''  What  is  it  that  has 
taken  the  talk  out  of  him  so  suddenly  V 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  143 

"  What  is  it  ?"  was  my  involuntary  echo,  as  the 
only  reply  I  could  make.  *' This  is  certainly  the 
strangest  phenomenon  I  have  met  in  all  my  spiritual- 
istic experience.     That  name — '' 

"  Is  your  sister's." 

"  How  do  you  know  T 

I  don't  know;  I  ovXy  guess.  Else  why  call  you 
brother.?" 

"  But  how  came  it  there  ?" 

**.What?" 

"  The  name !" 

"  Just  as  the  writing  came !" 

*'  But  how  came  the  writing  ?  It  is  that  which 
perplexes  me." 

"Can't  you  tell.?" 

"  I  would  not  ask,  if  I  could.'* 

"  Can  you  explain  how  the  speaking  was  done  last 
night  ?" 

"  Is  that  a  banter  T 

"  Do  you  want  a  fight  ?  ha,  ha,  ha  !  Here's  more 
than  a  wind-mill  for  my  gallant  Don.  The  '  what  is 
it.'     Do  you  see  it  ?" 

^*  What  has  the  speaking-  to  do  with  the  writing, 
Annie  T 

"  Do  they  not  both  belong  to  the  same  mysterious 
family.?" 

"  Hardly.  When  a  spirit  says,  '  I  can't  speak,'  it 
sounds  very  much  like  a  man  saying,  *Now  I'm 
dead !'  We  are  at  liberty  to  doubt  the  veracity  of 
both." 

"  Bah  !  Did  n't  they  tell  you  the  conditions  were 
too  bad— that  they  could  n't  talk  much  ?" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


144  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

''Miichr 

*' That's  what  they  meant?" 

''  Why  did  n't  they  say  so  ?" 

"Why  don't  you  tell  how  the  writing  is  done?" 

"  Yankee !" 

"  Dutchee !" 

"I  can*t  speak!" 

-  Do  tell !" 

"  Come,  Annie,  let  us  be  serious." 

"  Agreed  !  How  came  the  writing  ?  Come,  cudgel 
your  brains  !     Let's  know  all  about  it!" 

"'Pon  honor,  I  do  not  know!  Will  they  write 
again  ?" 

"  Who  r 

"The  thing—" 

"  Do  n't  you  dare  call  your  sister  by  such  an  oppro- 
brious name  !  Ain  't  you  ashamed  to  employ  such  an 
epithet  against ?" 

"Well,  the  spirit,  then,  if  you  insist!" 

"It's  an  ill-mannered  concession;  but  it's  better 
than  thing  or  no  thing,  Mrs.  Hollis,  please  hold  the 
slate  again  for  'Uncle  Nep.'  I  think  he  is  on  the  anx- 
ious-bench. He  has  been  an  arrant  backslider,  and 
another  conversion  will  do  him  no  harm." 

"  Certainly,"  said  Mrs.  Hollis  ;  "  but  please  wash 
the  slate  first  with  clean  water." 

I  did  so,  and  wiped  it  quite  dry  with  my  hand. 
There  was  a  dun  spot  on  the  slate,  caused  by  iron 
pyrites,  which  served  as  a  private  mark  to  identify 
it,  if  need  be.  The  slate  was  one  I  had  used  on  my 
desk  for  several  years.  I  gave  it  to  Mrs.  Hollis,  who 
received  it  with  her  right-hand,     I  then   placed  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  145 

bit  of  pencil  on  it,  when  she  put  both  under  the  table. 
After  scanning  the  situation  closely,  and  satisfying 
myself  that  there  was  no  hocus-pocus  attempted,  I 
again  spread  the  shawl  over  the  top  of  the  table,  leav- 
ing the  wrist  and  arm  of  the  medium  fully  exposed  to 
view  in  a  good  light.  The  slate  was  held  about  five 
inches  from  the  top  of  the  table,  grasped  in  the  man- 
ner I  have  stated,  with  the  thumb  on  top,  the  fingers 
underneath. 

It  was  only  two  or  three  minutes  after  I  had  com- 
pleted my  inspection,  when  the  mysterious  scratching 
on  the  slate  began  again.  I  could  hear  it  distinctly, 
and  it  continued  several  minutes.  The  sound  was 
irregular,  just  such  as  would  be  made  by  a  person 
writing  with  a  pencil.  Again  the  shower  of  tiny  raps 
was  ^wtw  at  the  conclusion. 

"  Before  withdrawing  your  hand,  Mrs.  Hollis,  per- 
mit me  to  look  at  the  position  of  the  slate." 
"  Certainly,"  she  said. 

I  lifted  the  shawl  from  the  little  stand,  and  dis- 
covered the  slate  to  be  held  in  the  same  position,  pre- 
cisely as  when  I  put  the  shawl  over  the  table.  No 
perceptible  change  had  taken  place,  excepting  that 
the  slate  was  almost  covered  with  writing.  Mrs.  Hol- 
lis, without  reading  the  communication,  handed  it  to 
me.  The  writing  was  in  a  large,  free,  bold  hand,  con- 
trasting strongly  with  the  lady-like  hand  of  Emma 
Francis'  note.     It  read  nearly  as  follows  : 

*' Doctor, — Our  medium  is  not  in  good  condition  for  giv. 
ing  manifestations.  Last  night  we  almost  failed,  and  to-day  her 
condition  is  such  that  we  are  almost  afraid  to  tax  her  strength. 
This  evening  we  will  give  you  better  manifestations  in  the  dark 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


146  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

circle.  Your  mother  will  try  to  speak,  but  may  not  succeed,  as 
she  has  never  uttered  a  human  word  since  she  passed  to  the 
spirit-world.  Your  uncle,  Charles  Odell,  will  also  try  to  speak. 
Thomas  Eljer  and  Jacob  Tyler  desire  me  to  announce  their 
presence.  James  Nolan." 

How  mysterious  all  this  is  !  Not  only  the  writing, 
but  the  facts  announced.  I  do  not  know  what  to 
think  of  it.  My  mother  will  try  to  speak,  but  may  not 
succeed!  Uncle  Charles  Odell  will  also  try  to  speak! 
And,  too,  there  are  the  names  of  my  two  brothers-in- 
law  announced!  How  came  all  these  names  on  that 
slate?  If  by  Mrs.  Hollis,  how,  first,  did  she  hear  of 
sister  Emma  Francis'  name.?  She  passed  to  the 
spirit-world  nearly  forty  years  ago — before  Mrs.  Hollis 
was  born— and  was  but  an  infant  when  her  little  heart 
ceased  to  throb.  I  only  remember  her  name.  It  is 
too  much  to  believe,  even  could  Mrs.  Hollis  have 
done  the  writing,  that  she  could  have  known  Emma 
Francis,  Charles  Odell,  Thomas  Filer,  and  Jacob 
Tyler.  And  who  is  James  Nolan,  who  makes  these 
startling  announcements  }  The  name  is  not  familiar, 
and  he  may  be  a  man  of  straw,  or  a  "make-up,"  to 
play  a  part  set  down  in  the  programme. 

And  yet  my  own  senses  condemn  the  supposition 
before  I  dare  announce  it.  It  would  incriminate  Mrs. 
Hollis  and  Mrs.  Wood  both.  Turn  which  way  I 
would,  I  met  a  dilemma.  My  judgment  pronounced 
against  fraud,  and  to  admit  the  manifestation  for  what 
it  purported  to  be,  would  unsettle  foundations  upon 
which  society  and  governments  rested.  Personally, 
I  was  anxious  to  fathom  the  mystery  to  its  "deepest 
depths."     But  how  to  proceed  ? 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  147 

It  now  occurred  to  me  that  James  Nolan  said, 
**  Your  mother  will  try  to  speak  to  you  in  the  dark 
circle.'* 

This  gave  me  new  hope;  for  a  man  never  forgets 
his  mother's  voice  any  more  than  she  forgets  her 
child.  If  my  mother  speaks,  it  will  be  in  no  uncertain 
sense.  No  matter ;  make  the  room  pitch-dark,  I  will 
recognize  her  voice. 

"  Is  n't  it  funny,  Doctor,  to  get  such  letters  with- 
out paying  postage  on  them  .'*"  said  Mrs.  Wood,  as  she 
finished  reading  the  letter  on  the  slate, 

"  Rather  funny,  if  it  were  not  so  serious  !" 

"  Serious  T 

"Yes:  or  will  you  let  me  into  the  joke,  and  tell 
me  how  the  thing  is  done  i*'* 

"  There  you  are  calling  your  sister  a  thing  again. 
I  'd  rather  run  the  risk  of  being  called  a  lady,  than  to 
be  considered  in  the  more  equivocal  sense  of  a  thing. 
Now,  do  stop  that !" 

"Then  explain  this  matter  to  me.     What  is  itf 

"That's  as  good  as  any  other  name,  if  you  are 
afraid  to  call  it  spiritual  phenomena.  Call  it  a  *  what 
is  it,*  and  send  for  Barnum.  Why,  look  here,  Mr. 
Soberside,  if  your  sister  is  writing  you  letters  from  the 
spirit-world,  can't  you  be  as  jolly  over  the  truth  she 
writes  as  if  she  wrote  from  Paris }  It  is  not  neces- 
sary to  cry  about  it,  that  I  can  see," 

"That  is  true,  Annie;  but  when  we  speak  of  the 
dead  we  should  not  indulge  in  levity." 

"  Why  not,  as  much  as  when  speaking  of  the 
living  r 

"  Because—" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


148  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"  What  ?" 

"Well,  because—" 

"  Exactly.  I  know  what  you  intend  saying.  You 
have  not  outgrown  your  nursery  superstitions  of  death ; 
and,  you  are  afraid  of  ghosts '[ 

"  No  !" 

"Then  why  not  always  be  truthful,  whether  you 
speak  of  the  living  or  the  dead  ?" 

"  Why  not  r 

"Yes  :  why  not.?" 

"  I  speak  the  truth  of  both  V 

"Then  you  know  but  little,  or  you  would- have 
been  hanged  long  ago  T' 

"  What  do  you  say  V 

"  Disguise  it  as  you  may,  you  are  too  cowardly  to 
admit  the  truth  of  what  you  have  just  witnessed/* 

"  Cowardly  1     What  of  ?" 

"  Public  sentiment !  You  may  call  that  a  thing, 
if  you  please ;  for  it  is  a  detestable  tyrant,  and  has  no 
virtue  in  it." 

"But,' Annie,  is  it  not  unpardonable  arrogance  to 
set  up  your  individual  opinion  against  the  majesty  of 
the  multitude  T' 

"  Yes,  if  you  know  you  are  right  and  are  too 
craven  to  say  so !" 

"  Your  courage  is  bravado/' 

"Your  prudence  is  fear." 

"  What  do  you  mean  T 

"  To  drive  this  conviction  home  to  you,  that,  say 
what  you  will,  you  are  afraid  to  admit  the  truth,  not 
so  much  because  it  unsettles  your  own  belief,  as  the 
fear  you  have  of  Mrs.  Grundy^s  gutter-snipes." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 49 

"  I  do  not  care  to  be  unsettled.  Is  there  any 
harm  in  that  ?" 

"  That  is,  if  you  have  wedded  a  lie,  you  want  to 
abide  with  it  forever.'* 

*' Why,  Annie  r 

"  Neppy  !'* 

"  You  will  make  yourself  obnoxious  !" 

"  To  whom  r 

''  Fashion !" 

"  Exactly.  She  is  the  ogress  that  startles  your 
poor  soul  with  flubdub,  night-mares,  and  hideous 
dreams.  She  prescribes  for  her  sickly  brood  what 
they  shall  eat,  drink,  and  wear  ;  and,  as  if  her  slavery 
were  not  sufficiently  degrading,  she  emasculates  your 
mind,  and  dictates  what  you  shall  think." 

"There  is  some  truth  in  what  you  say,  Annie,  I 
admit;  but  why  break  your  lance  at  such  a  time  i^" 

"  Because  there  is  a  necessity  for  doing  it.  Here 
is  a  phenomenon  which,  in  its  importance  to  the  world, 
no  man  can  as  yet  properly  comprehend.  It  con- 
templates a  radical  change  in  the  vast  empire  of 
mind.  Its  mission  is  subversive  of  the  present  order 
oi  things.  It  will  first  destroy,  then  reconstruct,  the 
social  condition  of  the  world ;  and  yet  you  dare  not 
look  these  facts  squarely  in  the  face." 

**Admitting  the  spiritual  origin  of  the  phenomena 
to  be  true,  still  I  can  not  anticipate  such  stupenduous 
results  as  you  predict." 

"You  have  not  thought  of  it." 

"  That  is  true.  And  yet  you  must  admit  I  have 
had  some  experience  in  spiritual  matters. 

"  I  know ;  but  never  in  any  like  this.     Here  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


I50  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

spirit,  reel  ad  with  the  elements  of  flesh,  takes  on  the 
conditions  of  mortal  life,  and  thinks  and  acts  again 
as  it  did  before  it  shuffled  off  its  cumbrous  coil  of 
clay.  Why,  sir,  do  you  see  that  death  has  lost  its 
sting  ?  the  grave  its  victory  ?" 

I  never  could  argue  well  with  a  female.  They 
have  a  perverse  element  about  them  that  unsettles 
the  steady  poise  of  a  man's  mind.     So  I  said  : 

"  Mrs.  Hollis,  who  is  James  Nolan  ?" 

"  He  is  one  of  the  band  of  spirits  that  forms  about 
me  to  give  manifestations." 

"  You  have  a  band  of  spirits  about  you !  1  re- 
member, sister  Emma  said  you  had  a  band  of  pro- 
gressed spirits,  principally  French.  How  is  that? 
You  are  not  French,  nor  of  French  extraction.  Is 
James  Nolan  a  Frenchman?" 

"  I  believe  not.  He  speaks  of  his  personal  history 
to  those  who  desire  it,  with  entire  freedom,  and  will, 
no  doubt,  give  you  any  information  in  regard  to  him- 
self that  he  may  have,  if  you  soHcit  it." 

The  writing  seance  and  conversation  closed  here. 

When  the  time  for  holding  the  second  dark  circle 
arrived,  we  again  assembled  in  the  room  to  hear  the 
talking.  I  should  rather  say,  whispering.  I  still  held 
my  prejudice  against  the  darkness;  but,  as  I  entered 
the  room,  I  had  a  vague  suspicion  that  I  had  been 
uncharitable  in  my  judgments,  if  not  absolutely  un- 
just, in  treating  the  former  dark  circle  as  I  had.  I 
proposed  to  atone  for  this  by  giving  a  more  candid 
and  respectful  attention  to  any  thing  that  might  occur 
on  the  present  occasion.  This  was  not  only  due  the 
ladies,  but  in  no  other  way  could  a  reliable  judgment 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 5  I 

be  formed  or  the  truth  be  discovered.  Prejudice  and 
bigotry  are  so  nearly  allied  in  character  and  infamy, 
that  we  can  not  be  too  careful  how  we  entertain  either, 
if  we  would  escape  their  noxious  odor.  Let  us  be 
discriminating  and  just. 

After  being  again  seated,  as  in  the  first  circle,  the 
lights  were  extinguished,  and  Mrs.  Wood  was  called 
upon  to  furnish  the  music,  and  with,  a  charming  voice 
gave  "  The  Old  Folks  at  Home,"  and  followed  it  with 
"  Home  Again." 

This  matter  of  singing  or  preluding  the  manifes- 
tations with  music,  is  rather  mysterious.  I  believe 
that  almost  every  form  of  either  Pagan  or  Christian 
worship  is  attended  with  music.  It  is  thought  to  be 
more  acceptable  to  Deity  to  address  him  in  aspirated 
notes  than  in  commonplace  vocal  sounds.  But  in  the 
dark  circle  I  thought  the  exception  should  be  made, 
as  it  was  not  a  place  for  either -Pagan  or  Christian 
worship.  Here  the  aesthetic  was  ignored,  and  all  the 
faculties  of  the  mind  were  to  be  kept  wide  awake. 

The  effect  of  music  on  the  human  system  varies 
in  its  expression.  If  the  sounds  are  harmonious,  and 
the  chant  is  an  old  familiar  lay,  we  soon  find  ourselves 
in  accord,  and  helping  to  hum  along.  Even  the  ani- 
mal, the  faithful  dog,  when  the  key-note  of  his  sym- 
panthium  is  struck,  as  with  a  reed-horn  it  may  be, 
gives  us  the  charming  howl  which  so  delights  our 
ears.  But  that  our  spirit  friends  consider  music  an 
essential  condition  before  they  will  either  orate  or 
jubilate,  is,  as  I  said,  a  mystery  to  me.  The  connec- 
tion of  wind  and  worship  is  a  subject  that  may  some 
day  be  more  fully  ventilated. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


152  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

While  the  singing  was  going  on,  I  heard  some" 
thing  passing  over  the  floor.  It  was  like  the  delicate 
foot-fall  of  a  cat,  at  first;  but  it  was  soon  discovered 
to  be  the  horn.  The  sounds  grew  louder  and  louder, 
passing  from  one  side  of  the  room  to  the  other  with 
increasing  celerity,  and  seemingly  coinstantial,  until 
the  horn  banged  and  jarred  every-where  within  six 
feet  of  the  medium,  and  about  two  feet  from  the 
circle,  making  almost  a  continuous  dinning  racket 
for  a  minute  or  two.  It  was  not  worth  while  to 
dodge,  as  you  might  hit  a  post  in  the  dark;  so,  after 
wiping  the  sweat  from  my  forehead,  I  sat  upright, 
asking  myself,  ''What  next.?" 

I  was  not  long  in  suspense.  A  chikrs  voice  re- 
peated rapidly  the  name  '*  Fanny,  Fanny,  Fanny,"  not 
less  than  twenty  times.  It  then  in  like  manner  re- 
peated the  word  "  mother."  The  voice  was  an  agitated 
whisper,  which  Mrs.  Wood  instantly  recognized  as  her 
little  son,  several  years  in  the  spirit-world.  She  ex- 
plained that  "Fanny"  was  the  name  of  a  pet  spaniel, 
to  which  her  child  was  very  much  att»ached,  and  an 
almost  inseparable  companion.  Mrs.  Wood  had  fre- 
quently met  her  spirit-child  in  the  ''dark  circle,"  and 
he  never  failed  to  announce  his  presence  in  this  sin- 
gular manner,  first  calling  his  pet's  name,  and  then 
his  mother's.  After  his  excitement  subsided,  he  talked 
in  a  childish  manner  of  the  things  he  remembered  in 
his  brief  earth-life. 

The  voice  clearly  belonged  to  a  child.  I  sat  next 
to  Mrs.  Wood  while  she  conducted  the  conversation, 
and  there  was  no  affectation  in  the  maternal  interest 
she  displayed.     I  managed  to  engage  Mrs.  Hollis  in 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUA  LISM.  1 5  3 

conversation  several  times,  while  Mrs.  Wood  and  her 
child  were  talking;  and  there  was  no  other  in  the 
room  that  could  affect  such  a  r61e  of  deception  if  their 
life  depended  on  it. 

Of  a  sudden,  at  least  when  not  expected,  the  voice 
said  "  Good-bye,  dear  mamma,  good-bye  !'*  That  was 
the  last  we  heard  from  little  "Lewie"  during  the 
evening. 

There  was  no  ventriloquism  in  this  interview,  I 
heard  the  impatient  mother  frequently  ask  her  child 
questions  before  his  prattle  was  ended.  Then,  again, 
before  she  finished  speaking,  the  child  began  talking 
on  something  that  had  occurred  to  his  fancy  of  more 
interest  to  him  than  what  the  mother  was  saying.  In 
this  way  their  conversations  frequently  overlapped 
each  other,  so  that  it  was  impossible  for  one  person 
to  practice  a  deception  in  this  matter,  no  matter  how 
dark  the  room  might  be. 

While  Mrs.  Hollis,  Mrs.  Wood,  and  myself  were 
talking  about  the  child,  we  all  heard,  in  a  distinct 
whisper,  the  words,  "  Napoleon,  Napoleon,  my  son  !'* 
repeated  quite  near  me,  and  immediately  in  front 
of  my  chair.  The  accent  was  unsteady,  but  the 
words  were  clearly  articulated,  though  low  and  slowly 
delivered. 

I  could  not  recognize  the  voice  of  my  mother  in  that 
faltering  whisper.    Still  I  said,  *'  Is  that  you,  mother  ?" 

"  God  bless  you,  my  dear  son  !  I  am  here  !"  was 
the  instant  response,  though,  like  the  first  spoken 
words,  they  were  delivered  with  an  embarrassing 
deliberation,  each  requiring  an  aspirated  effort  to 
pronounce. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


154  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"Can  I  be  of  service  to  you  in  any  way,  mother?" 
I  said. 

A  long  interval  elapsed  without  any  response  be- 
ing given,  to  my  question.  When  it  came,  it  was  in  a 
strange  voice,  louder,  stronger,  the  words  more  dis- 
tinctly articulated  and  pronounced.     It  said  : 

"  Your  mother  has  not  yet  learned  to  talk.  She 
was  assisted  to  announce  to  you  her  presence,  but 
can  not  speak  any  herself  to-night.  She  is  very  anx- 
ious to  talk  to  you,  but  has  not  the  power.  I  will 
speak  for  her,  and  deliver  her  messages." 

"Who  are  you?" 

"  James  Nolan  !  Do  n't  waste  your  time  on  me  ; 
speak  to  your  mother." 

"  Very  well.    Has  mother  any  thing  to  say  to  me  i*" 

"Tell  my  son  I  am  happy,  and  glad  he  takes  an 
interest  in  this  great  work." 

"  What  work  does  she  allude  to  ?" 

"  These  new  facts  in  spirit  manifestations  !" 

"  If  all  this  is  really  what  it  pretends  to  be,  I  shall 
indeed  take  a  new  interest  in  spirit  phenomena.  But 
how  shall  I  know,  Mr.  Nolan,  that  you  really  repre- 
sent my  mother  on  this  occasion  ?" 

"  Try  the  Spirit  !" 
"  Very  well ;  that  is  exactly  what  I  desire  to  do !" 
And  I  will  also  try  Mr.  Nolan  in  the  difficult  part  he 
has  consented  to  play  in  this. 

"Are  you  quite  sure  it  is  my  mother  you  are 
speaking  for,  Mr.  Nolan  ?" 

"  No,  sir !  This  spirit  says  she  is  your  mother, 
and  gives  her  name  as  Mary  Lockard  Wolfe  Jordan." 

"The  name  is  correct.     But  I  wish  her  to  give  me 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 5  5 

a  better  identification  than  simply  announcing  her 
name.  Will  she  please  state  her  age  at  the  time  of 
her  death  ?" 

"If  she  had  lived  until  May,  1873,  her  age  would 
have  been  eighty  years.  Had  she  lived  until  May 
in  the  year  she  died,  her  age  would  have  been  sev- 
enty-six years;  but  as  her  death  occurred  in  January, 
her  age  was  seventy-five  years  and  eight  months 
when  she  left  the  form."  * 

"  I  believe  the  information  you  give  is  correct ; 
and,  as  she  is  so  exact  in  her  statement,  will  my 
mother  please  tell  whether  she  has  any  brothers  or 
sisters  living  or  dead?" 

"  She  says  none  are  dead  ;  all  are  living." 

"  Where  do  they  live  ?'* 

"In  the  spirit-world!" 

"  O  yes,  I  see !" 

"  She  says  we  are  all  here,  and  the  family  circle 
is  again  complete.  I  was  the  last  to  come.  John, 
Peggy,  Hannah,  Sam,  Thomas,  and  Charles,  all  pre- 
ceded me.  You  did  not  know  Sam,  Thomas,  or 
Charles.   You  was  too  young  when  they  passed  away." 

"Are  any  of  your  children  with  you  i*" 

"Isabella  and  Emma  Francis  are  here.  They 
passed  from  earth  in  infancy." 

"  Can  you  name  your  children  that  are  still  in  the 
form,  and  in  the  order  of  their  birth  V' 

"  O  yes !  Why  not }  You  still  doubt  my  pres- 
ence ?" 

•  *  I  do  not  recognize  any  characteristics  of  my  mother  in  this  indi- 
rect method  of  answering  my  question.  She  always  used  plainness  of 
speech,  and  never  failed  to  speak  directly  to  the  point,  However,  the 
information,  so  curiously  stated,  is  in  every  particular  true. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


156  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

*'  I  can  not  help  it !  I  am  in  the  dark !  If  I  could 
see  you  for"  an  instant,  no  more  questions  would  be 
asked.  I  hope  you  will  be  patient  with  me.  This  is  a 
marvelous  proclamation  you  are  making  to  the  world, 
and  we  can  not  be  too  critical  in  our  examination  of 
the  testimony  upon  which  it  rests." 

"  You  are  right,  my  son  ;  investigation  can  not 
injure  the  truth.  Say  to  Mary  and  Henry  and  Charles 
(as  I  say  to  you)  and  John  and  Caroline,  that  death 
can  not  destroy  a  mother's  love." 

*'  You  have  done  it  accurately.  You  have  men- 
tioned the  names  of  your  brothers  and  sisters  and 
children,  living  and  dead,  in  the  order  of  their  births. 
That  is  a  remarkable  testimony  favoring  my  mother's 
individual  presence.  But  I  have  elicited  the  informa- 
tion by  the  direct  question.  Can  you,  of  your  own 
choice,  tell  me  something  by  which  I  may  be  more 
positively  convinced  that  my  mother  is  present,  and 
is  really  talking  to  me  ?" 

There  was  no  response  to  my  question  for  sev- 
eral minutes,  and  Mrs.  Hollis  expressed  her  doubt  as 
to  whether  there  was  sufficient  power  for  them  to  talk 
much  longer.  At  this  juncture  a  wild  and  prolonged 
howl  or  hoo-0-0 !  startled  all  in  the  circle.  It  was 
the  "big  Indian,"  Skiwaukee.  His  presence  was 
instantly  recognized  by  Mrs.  Hollis  and  Mrs.  Wood, 
and  it  was  soon  apparent  that  they  were  on  the  most 
familiar  terms  with  him.  I  think  his  voice  might  be 
heard  in  all  parts  of  my  house.  It  was  not  harsh, 
but  preternaturally  loud  and  long.  It  is  this  that 
startles  you,  and  makes  you  think  of  red  paint  and 
the  tomahawk. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 5  7 

After  talking  to  the  ''  mejum  "  and  "  singin'  squaw  '* 
a  few  minutes,  I  was  formally  introduced  to  him,  and 
at  once  was  distinguished  as  "em  old  chief"  He 
takes  this  liberty  with  every  one,  to  give  them  such 
a  name  as  pleases  himself  best.  He  is  called  '^SkV 
by  those  familiar  with  him,  and  in  his  conversation 
speaks  quite  loud  enough  to  be  heard  distinctly.  He 
has  not  yet  mastered  English  grammar,  and  occa- 
sionally makes  some  very  funny  remarks  in  his  quaint 
mixture  of  Cherokee  and  Lindley  Murray.  Addressing 
me,  he  said': 

*'Em  old  chief;  want  em  test?" 

"  Yes,"  I  said.  "  I  wished  my  mother  to  give  me 
a  voluntary  test — to  state  something  unthought  of  and 
unsolicited." 

"  Em  old  squaw  em  here  !" 

*^Well,  will  you  ask  her  to  give  me  a  voluntary 
test,  something  by  which  I  may  be  positively  assured 
of  her  presence  T 

"  Do  em  old  chief  know  how  em  got  em   name 

Noporon  r 

*'  No  !  Can't  say  that  I  do  !  I  think  my  mother 
had  an  admiration  for  Bonaparte,  as  mothers  have  for 
Washington,  and  so  gave  me  his  name. 

"  I  tell  em  !  Old  squaw  got  em  papoose.  In  em 
morning  old  Catholic  squaw,  Sanna  Faul  [Rosanna 
M'Fall]  come  see  em  old  squaw  and  papoose.  Em  say 
what  em  call  em  papoose.  Old  squaw  say  Noporon, 
Old  Catholic  squaw  get  em  much  big  mad,  em  go 
home  and  call  em  dog  Bonaparte."* 

^  I  do  not  think  this  anecdote  has  been  mentioned  in  our  family 
for  forty  years,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  my  brothers  or  sisters  knew 

16 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


IS8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

''  Skiwaiikee,  you  have  given  me  a  startling  proof 
of  the  presence  of  an  intelligence  which,  if  it  is  not 
my  mother,  it  is  certainly  one  connected  with  the 
history  of  our  family/* 

Taking  it  all  in  all,  this  was  the  most  remarkable 
seajice  I  had  ever  attended.  To  be  sure,  the  testi- 
mony came  in  the  dark,  addressing  the  understanding 
through  the  ears.  But  examine  the  whole  drift  of  the 
conversation,  and  what  could  strengthen  the  presump- 
tion of  my  mother's  presence  but  the  added  sense  of 
sight  } 

I  do  not  think  it  possible  that  any  person  in 
the  room  could  have  given  such  a  coherent  and  un- 
broken  chain    of  evidence   favoring  the  actual   pres- 

any  thing  of  the  circumstances  detailed  by  the  Indian,  I  was  only  a 
child  when  I  last  heard  the  story.  Tlie  main  facts  are  given  with  suffi- 
cient fidelity,  but  a  trifling  explanation  may  be  added.  Mrs.  Rosanna 
M'Fall  was  a  devout  Catholic,  and,  next  to  Beelzebub,  she  hated  the 
name  of  Napoleon,  who  had  robbed  the  Church  and  compelled  its  head 
to  dance  attendance  npon  him.     For  this  he  was  hated. 

On  particitlar  occasions,  as  in  "harvest,"  it  is  said  all  j()kes  are 
free.  So  the  morning  after  my  mother's  tribulation  being  Christmas, 
the  neighboring  women  came  in  to  say  a  good  \vord  and  have  their 
"crack  " — Rosanna  amojig  them.  She  teased  mother  to  permit  her  to 
name  the  boy,  promising  a  present,  etc.,  but  it  was  no  go.  That  prerog- 
ative she  maintained  as  personal,  and,  to  get  even  with  the  Napoleon 
hater,  said  she  was  thinking  seriously  of  naming  the  boy  Nai)oIeon 
Bonaparte.  This  was  as  a  spark  of  fire  to  a  magazine  of  powder. 
Rosanna  exploded  her  wrath  against  the  Little  Corporal,  njother,  and 
myself,  until  it  became  a  question  of  metal.  The  whole  affair  started 
in  a  joke,  but  the  big  Jiame  clings  to  me  still. 

To  show  her  disrespect  for  the  name,  and  to  annoy  n)y  mother, 
Rosanna  got  a  mangy  cur,  and  called  him  '*  Bony."  This  dog  she  would 
berate  on  accotnit  of  his  name  with  the  vilest  epithets  every  day  in  her 
back-yard,  within  ear-shot  of  mother.  Her  resentment  against  the 
name  continued  for  several  years  ;  but  at  last  she  began  to  give  me 
candy,  and  said  she  hoped  I  would  not  make  as  big  a  rascal  as  my 
namesake.     Skhvatikee's  allusion  to  this  dog  is  very  remarkable. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


159 


ence  of  my  mother.     When  I  review  the  seance,  I  am 
amazed. 

We  had,  without  intending  it,  prolonged  the  sitting 
to  an  untimely  hour.  Mrs.  Hoi  lis  complained  of  feel- 
ing very  much  exhausted  ;  and,  had  it  not  been  for 
the  interest  awakened  by  the  astonishing  tests  exhib- 
ited, we  should  have  all  been  in  full  sympathy  with 
her  feelings,  or  asleep. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


l6o  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A  VISIT  TO  MRS.  IIOLLIS— HER  FAMILY— A  PREMONI- 
TION AND  PROPHECY— HOW  SHE  BECAME  A  SPIR- 
ITUALIST—DARK CIRCLE  IN  WHICH  A  SPIRIT  SINGS 
A  GERMAN  SONG— MANY  TALK,  AND  ONE  SHOWS 
ITS  FACE. 

THE  morning  following,  Mrs.  Hollis  and  Mrs. 
Wood  started  for  Louisville  on  the  boat.  I 
now  had  leisure  to  calmly  consider  the  merits  of  the 
manifestations  which  had  occurred  in  the  ''dark 
circle/'  and  to  determine,  in  my  own  mind,  what 
amount  of  credibility  should  be  attached  to  them. 

In  the  conversation  I  had  had  with  James  Nolan, 
it  was  affirmed  that  my  mother  was  actually  present, 
and  dictated  to  him  the  information  he  communicated 
to  me.  This  was  a  bold  assumption,  and  it  became 
necessary  to  examine  it  critically,  to  find  whether  it 
was  true  or  false. 

I  was  inclined  to  think  that  a  judicious  investiga- 
tion would  disclose  the  fact  that  the  so-called  spirit 
phenomena  could  all  be  traced  to  a  mundane  origin. 
In  this  belief  I  was  strengthened  by  the  circum- 
stance that  nothing  had  been  communicated  but  what 
I  already  knew.  I  assumed  if  the  spirits  could  talk, 
they  would  say  something  to  entertain  or  instruct  us — 
tell  us  something  of  their  spirit-life,  the  spirit-world, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 6 1 

rather  than  be  rummaging  through  the  '^olcl  storehouse 
of  memory,"  picking  out  unimportant  scraps  of  half- 
forgotten  information  from  its  waste-basket.  How  the 
''old  storehouse"  had  been  entered  and  explored,  was 
to  my  mind  the  most  interesting  part  of  the  problem 
presented  for  solution.  The  answer  to  this  should  be 
in  no  uncertain  sense.  It  was  claimed  that  the  talk- 
ing was  done  by  the  spirits  of  those  who  knew  the 
facts  communicated,  and  that  it  was  from  their  own 
personal  knowledge,  not  mine,  that  the  information 
was  derived. 

There  may  be  some  truth  in  this  statement. 
Besides,  Emma  Francis'  note  made  an  announce- 
ment that  was  not  only  unknown  to  me,  but  was 
unpleasant  in  its  character,  and  which  I  rejected  at 
the  time  as  impertinently  officious.  Nevertheless, 
the  talking  was  done  in  the  dark — that  invested  it 
with  a  doubtful  character.  It  is  true  that  the  ear 
reports  as  faithfully  the  things  that  are  heard  as  the 
eye  informs  of  the  things  which  are  seen;  but  does 
not  the  eye  attest  more  truthfully  than  the  ear.?  This 
proposition  we  will  not  stop  to  discuss  farther  than 
to  record  the  trite  axiom  :  ''  You  can  believe  what  you 
hear,  but  what  you  see  is  truth  itself." 

I  demurred  against. ^admitting  the  claim  that  dis- 
embodied spirits  communicated  the  facts  presented 
in  the  dark  circle,  for  the  double  reason  that  the  in- 
formation communicated  was  not  only  not  new,  but 
that  it  could  have  been  obtained  from  personal  friends, 
or  those  intimately  acquainted  with  the  history  of  my 
family.  I  did  not  make  these  charges,  but  these 
were  the  mental  reserves  upon  which  I  rested ;  and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


l62  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

until  they  were  successfully  proved  to  be  untenable, 
I  could  not  see  why  I  should  surrender  my  judgment 
by  admitting  the  claim  to  be  true.  I  know  very 
welt  that  this  seems  like  a  suspicion  upon  the  integ- 
rity of  my  guests,  but  no  more  so  than  the  situation 
placed  them  in.  My  study  is  the  situation.  I  have 
nothing  to  do  with  personal  feeling  in  this  matter. 
Per  coiiU-a,  l^m  free  to  admit  that  I  could  not 
discover  any  purpose  to  be  subserved  in  the  interest 
of  the  ladies  by  the  admission  or  rejection  of  these 
manifestations;  so  they  stand  without  any  direct 
charge  against  their  "  good  repute."  I  go  farther, 
and  say  that,  so  far  as  I  could  judge,  it  was  impossible 
for  the  ladies  to  have  done  the  talking  under  the 
existing  circumstances.  If  either  had  attempted  to  do 
it,  I  would  have  detected  the  imposition  at  once.  Nor 
could  they  have  employed  a  confederate  to  do  it  with- 
out my  discovery  of  the  fact.  '*  Blind  though  I  am,  I 
am  not  dumb  !"  In  my  own  household  I  could  not  be 
deceived,  and  no  other  was  present  that  the  eye  could 
see,  even  in  the  light.  Still  an  intelligent  conversa- 
tion was  maintained  for  an  hour,  not  on  important 
matters,  I  admit,  but  on  topics  of  great  personal  inter- 
est to  me.  During  all  this  time  there  was  no  effort 
made  to  introduce  new,  abstruse,  or  complicated  sub- 
jects, or  to  mislead  by  sophistry,  or  disguise  truths 
in  glittering  generalities.  Such  subjects  only  were 
discussed  with  which  I  was  most  familiar.  There 
was  no  hesitancy  in  the  speech,  and  the  words  were 
articulated  so  near  my  ear  that  I  seemed  Xo  feel  the 
breath  with  which  they  were  uttered.  Still  they 
sounded  natural     That  again   perplexed  me. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  163 

While  Struggling,  I  admit,  to  find  a  natural  solu- 
tion to  this  talking  problem,  I  was  met  with  the  still 
greater  difficulty  of  explaining  the  phenomena  of  the 
slate-writing.  This  was  performed,  not  in  the  dark, 
but  in  a  sunlighted  room,  wherein  good  eyes  could 
read  the  smallest  print  or  thread  the  finest  needle. 

It  is  not  my  habit  to  retire  from  every  difficulty 
that  obstructs  my  passage  in  the  rugged  road  to  knowl- 
edge ;  so  when  I  found  that  I  could  not  get  any  liglit 
to  my  understanding  while  remaining  in  the  shadow 
of  the  phenomena,  I  decided  to  carry  forward  my  line 
of  investigation  in  a  different  direction.  The  experi- 
ence J  had  had  with  Mr.  Mansfield  taught  me  this 
lesson,  that,  to  value  spiritual  phenomena  properly, 
you  must  have  some  knowledge  of  the  private  charac- 
ter of  the  medium  through  whom  it  occurs.  Trick- 
sters do  not  make  good  mediums.  Good  character, 
like  good  blood,  will  show  itself.  It  has  more  value 
in  this  business  than  in  preaching,  or  in  editing  a 
paper.  Whitewash  may  conceal  the  prostitutions  of 
the  pulpit  and  the  press;  nay,  I  sometimes  believe  it 
does;  but  the  character  of  a  good  spirit-medium,  one 
selected  to  represent  the  higher  truths  of  the  spirit- 
world,  must  be  smis  reproach. 

With  this  purpose  in  view,  I  visited  Louisville  in 
the  following  August,  to  make  arrangements  with 
Mrs.  Hollis  to  return  to  Cincinnati  again  at  an  early 
day,  that  I  might  examine  this  subject  more  leisurely 
at  my  own  house.  It  was  my  own  private  enterprise, 
for  which  I  was  quite  willing  to  pay. 

I  found  her  at  home,  in  the  midst  of  her  family 
and    friends.     In  Louisville,   sheas  well  known  and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 64  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

highly  esteemed  as  a  lady  of  refined  taste  and  irre- 
proachable character.  To  the  different  members  of 
her  family  I  was  introduced,  and  found  them  intelli- 
gent, interesting,  and  communicative. 

Mrs.  Kerns,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  HoUis,  is  a  vener- 
able lady  of  quick,  benevolent  instincts  and  surpassing 
intelligence.  With  her  I  talked  very  freely,  and 
studied  the  character  of  her  child  from  her  motherly 
stand-point. 

I  was  invited  to  spend  the  day  and  evening  with 
them,  which  enabled  me  to  make  the  very  observa- 
tions I  wished.  I  was  made  quite  welcome,  and  the 
place  felt  home-like. 

During  the  day  many  persons  called  for  manifes- 
tations, principally  for  slate-writing,  which  I  was  per- 
mitted to  see.  These  were  given  in  the  open  parlor, 
in  view  of  persons  passing  along  the  pavement  or 
riding  on  the  street-cars.  There  was  no  attempt  to 
conceal  any  thing  connected  with  this  business.  It 
was  a  fair,  open  transaction.  The  persons  receiving 
the  communications  were  strangers  to  Mrs.  Hollis, 
had  never  before  visited  Louisville,  and  yet  they  bore 
ample  testimony  to  the  genuineness  of  the  facts  that 
were  communicated  on  that  wonderful  slate  when 
held  under  the  table.  I  watched  these  people  staring 
at  each  other,  surprised  when  names  were  given 
of  old  friends  who  had  long  since  been  dead  ;  and 
when  some  almost  forgotten  circumstance  was  again 
recalled  by  which  their  actual  presence  could  reason- 
ably be  inferred.  Tears  would  frequently  dim  their 
eyes  as  these  startling  revelations  would  appear  upon 
the  slate.     Surely,  I  said,  this  can  not  all  be  affected. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  165 

People  are  bad,  I  know;  but  can  all  this  be  h3q3ocrisy  ? 
These  people  look  too  honest  to  shed  their  tears  for 
theatrical  display. 

Throughout  the  day  I  watched  the  play  of  excited 
feeling,  passion,  strong  and  weak,  upon  the  faces  of 
those  who  sat  beside  that  little  table.  It  was  a  fit 
study  for  the  facile  pencil  of  a  Hogarth.  Here  human 
nature  threw  off  her  disguises,  and,  to  those  who 
could  comprehend  her  sublime  mysteries,  laid  bare 
her  heart  for  inspection. 

Toward  evening,  visitors  began  to  grow  scarce; 
and  when  the  sun  had  just  touched  the  horizon  with 
his  blazing  periphery,  glaring,  as  it  seemed,  like  the 
unlashed  eye  of  God,  the  last  infatuated  investi- 
gator stepped  through  the  yard-gate,  and  followed 
the  shadow  of  his  head  eastward  along  Portland 
Avenue. 

''  You  have  had  a  busy  day,  Mrs.  Hollis,"  I  said, 
as  we  sat  on  the  porch,  in  the  twilight  of  the  evening. 
"The  gentleman  and  lady  last  here  seemed  to  be 
people  of  quality." 

"A  preacher  and  his  wife  in  disguise !" 

"  In  disguise  T 

"Yes:  preachers  are  not  honest  in  their  profes- 
sion ;  so  they  suspect  me  for  being  dishonest  in  mine  !'* 

"Not  all,  I  hope.?" 

"  No :  but  what  \  say  of  thera  is  true,  as  a  class. 
They  bring  with  them  iDad  magnetism,  and,  by  law  of 
association^  attract  undeveloped  spirits  about  them. 
These  will  frequently  communicate  unsavory  things, 
for  which  I  am  held  responsible.  I  dp  n't  admire 
these  people  for  that." 

17 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


l66  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"  But  you  should  not  lose  your  patience  with  the 
preachers.  They  are,  you  know,  so  influential  in 
molding  public  sentiment;  if  you  can  convert  one  of 
them  to  a  belief  in  spiritualisiii,  you  may  impress  a 
multitude." 

"I  do  not  lose  patience  with  any  one.  I  think, 
however,  your  estimate  of  the  preachers'  influence  in 
molding  public  sentiment  is  in  excess  of  the  truth. 
1  have  yet  to  find  the  first  one  who  has  had  the  moral 
courage  to  make  a  fair  exhibit  to  the  public  of  such 
tests  as  have  been  given  them  at  the  writing-table  or 
in  the  dark  circle.  As  a  class,  they  are  too  cowardly 
to  speak  of  the  interest  they  feel  in  the  subject,  and, 
Peter-like,  they  will  deny  having  visited  a  medium 
before  they  have  wiped  the  tears  from  their  eyes 
which  their  spirit- friends  have  evoked.  They  mold 
public  sentiment!  No,  sir:  you  are  mistaken.  They 
are  miserable  shams,  and  they  know  it.  The  multi- 
tude lead  them  by  the  nose,  as  it  does  the  editors: 
They  may  play  their  pranks  before  high  heaven,  as 
painted  and  patched  harlequins  do  before  men,  but 
that  they  either  lead  or  mold  public  sentiment  is 
a  concession  made  purely  through  ignorance  or 
charity." 

"I  am  sorry  to  hear  this  report  of  the  preachers.     I 
thought  them  very  much  better  than  you  represent." 

"They  are  only  actors,  playing  a  part  in  the  drama 
of  life,  affecting  virtues  which  they  do  not  feel.  They 
are  not  what  they  seem,  any  more  than  is  the  donkey 
in  the  lion's  skin." 

**  I  hope  private  citizens  are  better  than  preachers 
and  editors." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 67 

"There  is  not  much  difference. 

'  Mankind  are  unco'  weak, 
And  little  to  be  trusted  ; 
If  self  the  wavering  balance  shake, 
It's  rarely  right  adjusted.' 

They  simply  lack  the  opportunity  or  the  courage 
to  be  mean.  Place  them  in  the  way  of  temptation, 
and  the  sturdiest  of  them  fall  from  grace.  ^  Is  thy 
servant  a  dog,  that  he  should  do  this  thing  T  asked 
Hazael,  of  old.  Had  he  been  acquainted  with  preach- 
ers, printers,  and  politicians  of  modern  times,  it  were 
needless  to  ask  this  question." 

**You  estimate  human  nature  very  poorly,  Mrs. 
Mollis,  and,  least  of  all,  the  preacher,  the  printer,  and 
the  politician." 

*'  Not  more  so  than  they  deserve.  I  have  more 
than  common  opportunities  for  knowing  these  people; 
and  I  tell  you,  if  they  should  get  their  deserts,  they 
would  suffer  badly  !" 

"  What  have  they  done  to  you  V 

^'Slandered  me!  They  make  false  statements, 
and  are  shameless  in  their  tergiversation.  Speak- 
ing of  these  men  as  a  class,  they  riot  in  falsehood. 
The  preacher  and  printer  have  given  currency  to  lies 
that  are  little  less  than  infamous  ;  while  the  poltroon 
of  a  politician  plays  *  puppy,'  and  barks  while  they 
bite." 

*'But,  Mrs.  Hollis,  you  ought  not  to  complain  of 
these  people,  I  suppose  they  pay  you  pretty  well 
for  your  time  .'^" 

"That  is  the  general  supposition;  and  herein  is 
great  injustice  done  me.  I  am  represented  as  a  mer- 
cenary person,  and  as  plying  my  vocation  for  its  emol- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 68  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

uments.  Never  was  there  a  grosser  falsehood.  This 
slander  obtained  such  general  circulation  and  credi- 
bility, that  the  municipal  government  of  Louisville 
made  it  a  punishable  offense,  both  by  a  heavy  fine 
and  imprisonment,  for  any  spirit-medium  to  practice 
their  profession,  without  first  having  taken  out  what 
all  considered  a  proscriptive  city  license.  This  was 
the  joint  work  of  pulpit-preachers,  pothouse  politi- 
cians, and  boss-printers.  O,  they  are  a  pretty  set 
of  mountebanks  to  stand  in  the  way  of  God's  eternal 
providence !  Too  craven  to  feel  the  galling  fetters  upon 
their  necks,  too  stupid  to  read  the  signs  of  the  times, 
as  they  are  written  on  the  forehead  of  modern  science, 
they  will  be  consumed  as  brambles  in  the  billowy 
blaze  of  the  New  Era." 

**But  do  you  make  no  charge  for  your  services?" 
"I  do  not;  and  dare  not,  if  I  would.  My  parlors, 
as  you  see,  are  filled  from  morning  till  night.  The 
spirit  of  curiosity  and  inquiry  brings  to  my  house  all 
kinds  of  people  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  My 
doors  are  open,  and  my  time  is  placed  at  the  disposal 
of  the  multitude.  In  this  way  my  family  are  deprived 
of  my  services,  and  my  expenses  are  augmented  by 
the  employment  of  additional  help.  Yet  the  crowd 
come  and  go  without  being  reminded  of  the  facts  I 
have  just  stated.  /  make  no  charge  for  this  new  gos- 
pel of  life ;  but  the  time  is  coming  when  /  wilL 
Ministers  are  petted  and  pampered  with  exorbitant 
salaries  for  preaching  ?ifree  (?)  gospel  to  purple-robed, 
shoddy  pew-holders.  Shall  I  be  starved  to  death 
because  the  angels  of  God  announce  themselves  in 
my  presence?     Formerly  it  was  the  rack,  the  wheel, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 69 

the  stake,  the  fagot,  and  the  halter.  Now  it  is  star- 
vation.  Let  us  pray  that  God's  will  be  done  on  earth 
as  it  is  in  heaven." 

**  But  do  none  pay  you,  Mrs.  Holhs  ?" 

*'  O,  occasionally  a  pittance,  ranging  in  value  from 
a  dime  to  a  dollar,  is  left  as  a  charity  upon  my  table ; 
but  in  the  aggregate  such  contributions  would  not 
pay  for  house-cleaning  and  the  wear  of  my  carpets."* 

**You  have  not  as  *  soft  a  thing'  of  it  as  I  fancied, 
Mrs.  Hollis." 

** About  as  'soft'  as  Tom  Hood's  shirt-maker." 

"Sitting  at  the  table  so  constantly  must  exhaust 
you  very  much  T 

*'  Yes :  I  get  tired.  I  can  only  rest  myself  by 
stirring  around,  or  doing  something." 

''Your  mediumship  is  a  very  great  mystery,  Mrs. 
Hollis.  I  do  not  wish  to  tax  either  your  strength  or 
your  good-nature ;  still,  when  you  feel  like  talking,  and 
are  inclined  to  gratify  my  curiosity,  nothing  would 
give  me  more  satisfaction  than  to  know  exactly  how 
you  became  a  spiritualist  and  a  spirit-medium." 

''  O,  I  can  tell  you  that  in  a  few  minutes,  and  may 
as  well  do  it  now  as  at  any  other  time." 

"  Do,  please !" 

*I  was  informed,  by  friends,  that  it  was  not  unfrequent  for  per- 
sons who  were  quite  able  to  pay,  to  visit  Mrs.  Hollis  for  manifestations, 
who,  after  monopolizing  her  time  for  several  hours,  would  leave  with- 
out even  returning  her  the  poor  acknowledgment  of  their  thanks  for 
the  sacrifices  she  had  made.  I  therefore  urged  her  to  correct  this 
injustice  by  absolutely  refusing  to  give  her  time  as  a  gratuity  to  sucii 
cattle ;  and  if  the  spirit-world  was  dissatisfied  with  this  arrangement, 
let  them  select  some  other  medium  to  do  their  work.  There  is  not  a 
jDreacher  in  the  land  who  would,  in  her  circumstances,  give  his  time  to 
the  rich  (or  poor)  for  nothing.  It  is  literally  **  casting  pearls  before 
swine."     Why  should  she  do  it  } 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 70  STAR TLING  FACTS  IN 

"When  a  very  little  girl,  I  was  considered  'a 
sleepy-headed  child/  and  I  was  so  slow  to  compre- 
hend the  value  of  the  alphabet,  that  it  was  feared  by 
ma  and  others  that  I  would  never  surmount  the 
difficulty." 

"That's  true,"  said  Mother  Kerns,  who  had  taken 
a  seat  with  us  on  the  porch,  to  listen  to  the  narrative. 
"That's  true.  I  thought  at  one  time  Mary  had  soft- 
ening of  the  brain." 

"  Indeed  1  Well,  you  have  dismissed  all  such  ap- 
prehensions now,  Mother  Kerns?" 

"O  yes:  long  since!" 

"But  we  interrupted  you,  Mrs.  Hollis.  Please  go 
on  with  the  narrative." 

"  Whenever  I  would  attempt  to  study,  I  would 
either  go  to  sleep  or  see  a  spectral  man  beside  me." 

"  A  ghost  r 

"I  did  not  know.  I  was  very  much  afraid  of  him, 
though  he  always  spoke  kindly  to  me.  When  I  be- 
came reconciled  to  his  presence,  I  began  to  talk  to 
him,  until  mother  would  frequently  say,  'Child,  who 
are  you  talking  to  T  When  I  would  tell  her  who  it 
was,  both  ma  and  pa  would  say  that  it  was  only  a 
'  trick  of  the  imagination.'  It  was  all  a  mistake. 
The  man  was  only  a  figment  of  the  mind,  and  I 
must'nt  be  dribbling  talk  to  myself  in  that  stupid 
way." 

"Of  course,  I  tried  hard  to  obey  my  parents  ;  but 
when  I  would  retire  to  my  chamber  at  night,  and  after 
undressing  for  bed,  then  I  would  see  my  room  filled 
with  people.  These  kept  up  a  general  conversation  ; 
and  I  'became  so  excited  and  nervous  that  I   would 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  I  / 1 

cry,  and  call  ma  and  pa  to  come  to  me  from  the  next 
room.  This  they  always  did  ;  and,  after  hushing  me 
to  sleep,  as  they  would  suppose,  I  could  hear  them 
say,  'That  child  has  worms;  she  must  take  some 
pink-root  and  senna  tea/  As  my  experience  was 
somewhat  singular,  I  gradually  settled  into  the  belief 
that  I  was  very  visionary,  and  ought  not  to  talk 
about  these  nightly  visitants. 

"Still,  though  I  ceased  to  spealc  much  about  them 
for  several  years,  these  visions  were  as  real  to  my 
apprehension  as  the  most  tangible  thing  to  my  sight 
or  touch.  Very  rarely  did  I  go  to  bed  that  they  did 
not  occur,  and  continue  until  sleep  and  forgetfulness 
surprised  vay  excited  brain. 

*'*My  father  met  with  a  calamity,  which  suddenly 
deprived  our  home  of  its  head.  It  was  a  severe  shock 
to  us  all — so  unexpected  and  terrible.* 

"  One  day  I  was  visiting  my  grandfather,  and, 
upon  the  occasion,  he  had  invited  the  bishop  of  our 
Church  (Episcopalian)  to  dine  with  him.  During 
the  conversation  at  the  table,  the  bishop  said  : 

**  *  I  have  been  visiting  the  Fox  sisters,  near  Roch- 
ester, New  York,  to  hear  the  spirit-raps.' 

'"'And  found  them  to  be  arrant  humbugs,  no 
doubt  .^'  was  my  grandfather's  reply. 

•*'0  no,'  said  the  bishop;  'there  is  something 
mysterious  in  these  raps.  I  believe  they  are  made 
by  bad  spirits,  or  perhaps  by  the  evil  one  who  en- 
snareth  the  soul." 

"  The  conversation  was  prolonged  to  the  end  of 

*  Murdered  for  a  large  sum  of  money  he  bad  on  his  person,  near 
Seymour,  Indiana. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1/2  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  feast,  and  I  remember  how  strangely  interested 
I  became  in  what  was  said.  My  conclusion  was,  that 
I  wanted  nothing  to  do  with  spirit-raps,  as  they  were 
produced  by  the  evil  one  who  ensnareth  the  soul. 

^'  Two  years  after  the  above  conversation,  I  was 
making  a  visit  to  the  house  of  an  uncle.  One  even- 
ing, several  of  my  cousins  gathered  around  a  table 
in  the  sitting-room,  and  began  their  fun  by  asking 
the  spirits  to  rap  for  them.  I  did  not  take  any  part 
in  this,  and  gave  but  little  attention  to  the  entertain- 
ment, until  one  of  my  cousins  said,  *  Mollie,  come 
here ;  your  father  has  spelled  out  his  name.' 

*'  I  was  so  shocked  by  this  irreverent  use  of  my 
father's  name,  that  I  felt  a  cold  chill  run  over  me  as 
if  I  had  the  real  Cromwellian  ague.  It  was  only  for 
a  moment,  however;  for  I  soon  timidly,  through  curi- 
osity, joined  the  circle  around  the  table.  My  father's 
name  was  again  spelled,  letter  by  letter,  until  it 
stood  in  completeness  before  my  astonished  gaze.  I 
thought  of  this  for  several  days,  and  so  intensely 
that,  turn  which  way  I  would,  I  could  see  his  face 
plainly  before  me.  Sometimes  it  was  clear  and  dis- 
tinct, as  when  I  had  seen  it  in  life;  then  again  it  was 
shadowy  and  obscure. 

*'  Seeing  my  father  as  I  did,  and  speaking  of  the 
fact  to  our  minister,  with  the  hope  of  obtaining  some 
information  on  the  subject  of  his  present  condition,  I 
was  astounded  to  hear  that  he  had  died  in  his  sins, 
without  the  benefit  of  clergy,  and  that  he  was  now 
placed  at  the  mercy  of  God  whether  he  would  be 
saved  or  lost." 

"O,  how  wretched  I  became  in  thinking  over  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 73 

impending  fate  of  my  good  father,  for  weal  or  woe, 
through  all  eternity,  God  held  the  decision  in  his. 
capricious  power  whether  my  father  should  be  saved 
or  lost.  It  was  mockery  to  talk  of  mercy  with  such 
ruin  impending,  such  wretchedness  ever  present.  *  I 
will  not  believe  it,'  I  said.  Come  weal  or  come  woe 
to  my  father,  I  will  share  his  fate. 

*'  There  were  times  when  I  earnestly  prayed  for  a 
change  of  heart,  and  there  were  moments  when  I  felt 
I  was  a  great  sinner;  but  that  my  good  father  should 
be  lost,  was  to  me  a  thought  of  agony. 

**  While  sitting  with  my  children,  one  evening, 
musing  of  times  past,  my  eldest  child  asked,  *  Ma,  do 
you  believe  every  thing  our  minister  says  T 

'*The  question  took  me  by  surprise,  and  before  I 
could  guard  my  reply,  I  said,  *No,  my  son;  he  tells 
falsehoods  as  well  as  other  men  !' 

**The  child  was  astonished — not  at  what  I  said, 
but  at  the  vehemence  of  my  manner,  and  the  emphasis 
of  my  words.  As  I  met  the  gaze  of  his  love-lighted 
eye,  I  almost  began  to  reproach  myself  for  this  infi- 
delity.    And  yet  I  felt  I  had  only  spoken  the  truth. 

**At  this  time  my  husband  was  in  the  army,  and 
my  condition  was  such  as  to  prey  sensibly  on  my 
health.  I  wasted  into  a  pulmonary  decline,  and  my 
early  death  was  not  the  most  improbable  event  that 
might  occur  at  any  time. 

''  One  night,  while  lying  in  bed,  unable  to  sleep,  I 
put  a  light  on  the  table,  and  began  reading,  as  was  my 
habit,  from  our  Book  of  Prayer.  I  had  but  barely 
commenced,  when  I  heard  distinctly  a  deep-toned 
voice  reciting,  in  the   most  impressive  manner,  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


174  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Episcopal  burial-service.  This  it  repeated  again  and 
again,  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  until  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

^'  I  could  not  be  mistaken  in  what  I  heard ;  and  the 
repetitions  were  made  so  frequently,  that  I  called  my 
mother  to  ask  whether  she  did  not  hear  them  too.  I 
could  not  rest  satisfied  until  we  had  searched  the 
house  in  quest  of  the  person  who  had,  in  this  myste- 
rious way,  disturbed  our  peace. 

*'  On  the  fourth  day  after  first  hearing  this,  my 
youngest  sister  was  suddenly  taken  sick,  and,  after 
only  two  hours'  illness,  died.  The  same  funeral  serv- 
ice I  had  so  mysteriously  heard  was  now  repeated 
over  her  lifeless  body. 

'*  Was  this  a  judgment  of  God  for  my  infidelity— 
the  light  of  our  household  extinguished  in  an  hour? 
And  in  the  funeral  service  I  had  heard,  was  I  to  find 
the  discontented  murmurs  of  an  impatient  and  angry 
Deity  1  Perish  the  thought  forever !  I  will  not 
believe  the  lie  ! 

''Broken  in  health,  and  sick  in  soul,  our  family 
physician  was  called  in  to  prescribe  for  my  relief. 
His  quick  eye  soon  discovered  that  mine  was  a  sick- 
ness of  the  mind,  and  not  of  the  body.     He  said  : 

'''Don't  give  yourself  any  anxiety  about  your 
father  or  sister,  Mrs.  Hollis.  I  wish  you  were  as  happy 
as  they  are.  And  there  is  no  good  reason  why  you 
should  not  be.' 

"  '  I  hope  so.  But  it  will  never  be  in  this  world  ; 
and  I  fear  it  will  not  be  so  in  the  next.' 

"'Your  despondency  arises  from  perverted  views 
of  life  and  death.     A  little  knowledge  on  this  subject. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  1 75 

outside  of  your  Church  dogmas,  would  do  much  to 
relieve  your  mind  of  its  painful  apprehensions.  I 
have  a  letter  at  home,  on  my  desk,  that  was  written 
by  Dr.  Franklin  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago, 
which  I  will  send  you  to  read.  It  was  written  to  a 
young  lady  in  Philadelphia,  who  had  lost  a  dear 
relative,  as  you  have,  and  which,  no  doubt,  was  a 
source  of  great  comfort  to  her.'* 

"'I  will  be  very  glad  to  read  it,  Doctor.  But 
don't  you  belong  to  any  Church?' 

"  *  No :  I  think  for  myself  on  the  subject  of  re- 
ligion, and  incline  more  to  a  belief  in  the  Harmonial 
Philosophy  than  in  the  creeds  or  dogmas  of  any 
Church,  however  infallible  they  may  be  pronounced.' 

"'What  do  you  mean  by  the  Harmonial  Philos- 
ophy .?' 

"  *  The   philosophy  that  establishes  the  truth  of 

^  "This  letter,"  says  the  Hon.  Horace  Dresser,  breathes  the  sen- 
timents of  spiritualism,  and  is  an  exponent  of  those  religious  views  which 
ranked  that  great  philosopher  and  statesman,  in  the  estimation  of  the 
clergy  and  the  Churches,  as  an  infidel." 

"  We  are  indebted,"  says  the  Chicago  ^z/<?;//;/^-  Journal.,  of  January, 
1872,  ''to  C.  B.  Nelson,  Esq.,  of  this  city,  for  the  privilege  of  present- 
ing the  following  beautiful  and  characteristic  memorial  of  Dr.  Franklin 
to  our  readers.     It  has  never  before  been  published  .- 

"from    dr.    franklin   to    miss    E.    HUBBARD. 

"'Philadelphia,  February  12,  1756. 

"  '  Dear  Child,— I  condole  with  you.  We  have  lost  a  most  dear 
and  valuable  relative ;  but  it  is  the  will  of  God  and  Nature  that  these 
mortal  bodies  be  laid  aside  when  the  soul  is  to  enter  into  real  life. 
Existence  here  on  earth  is  hardly  to  be  called  life.  'Tis  rather  an  em- 
bryo state — a  preparation  to  living;  and  man  is  not  completely  born 
until  he  is  dead.  Why,  then,  should  we  grieve  that  a  new  child  is 
born  among  the  immortals — a  new  member  added  to  their  society  ? 

*' '  We  are  spirits.  That  bodies  should  be  lent  to  us  while  they  can 
afford  us  pleasure,  assist  us  in  acquiring  knowledge,  or  in  doing  good 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


176  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

spirit-intercourse,  and  which  enables  us  to  communi- 
cate with  the  dead.' 

" '  O,  Doctor!  can  you  believe  in  any  thing  so 
absurd  ?' 

** 'Absurd?  Why,  Mrs.  Mollis,  some  of  the  most 
thoughtful,  learned,  and  scientific  men  living  are  firm 
believers  in  this  same  Harmonial  Philosophy ;  and 
there  are  a  large  number  of  persons  who  look  at  the 
subject  in  so  serious  a  light,  that  they  consider  its 
treatment  with  ridicule  or  jest  as  personally  offensive/ 

**'But  I  never  heard  that  spiritualism  was  of  use 
to  any  body.  Our  bishop  said  that  the  spirit-raps 
were  produced  by  the  evil  one  who  ensnareth  the 
soul.' 

"'Your  bishop  talks  more  like  a  zany  than  a  man. 
To  me,  spiritualism  is  not  only  a  reality,  but  one  of 
the  grandest  truths  that  has  ever  been  made  known 

to  our  fellow-creatures,  is  a  kind  and  benevolent  act  of  God.  W^hen 
they  become  unfit  for  their  purposes,  and  afford  us  pain  instead  of 
pleasure,  instead  of  an  aid  become  an  incumbrance,  and  answer  none  of 
the  intentions  for  which  they  were  given,  it  is  equiilly  kind  and  benevo- 
lent that  a  way  is  provided  by  wliicli  we  may  get  rid  of  them.  That 
way  is  death. 

"  *  W^e  ourselves,  prudently  in  some  cases,  choose  a  partial  death. 
A  mangled,  painful  limb,  which  can  not  be  restored,  we  willingly  cut  off. 
He  that  plucks  out  a  tooth,  parts  with  it  freely,  since  the  pain  goes 
with  it ;  and  he  that  quits  the  whole  body,  parts  with  all  the  pains  and 
possibility  of  pains  and  diseases  it  was  liable  to,  or  capable  of  making 
him  suffer. 

*' '  Our  friend  and  we  are  invited  abroad  on  a  party  of  pleasure  that 
is  to  last  forever.  His  chair*  was  first  ready,  and  he  has  gone  before 
us.  We  could  not  conveniently  all  start  together ;  and  why  should  you 
and  I  be  grieved  at  this,  since  we  are  soon  to  follow,  and  we  know 
where  to  find  him  ? 

"  'Adieu,  my  dear,  good  child,  and  believe  that  I  shall  be,  in  every 
state,  your  affectionate  papa.  Benjamin  Franklin.'  " 

*  Alluding  to  sedan  chairs,  then  in  fashionable  use. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  Ijj 

to  mankind.  It  has  brought  peace  and  consolation 
to  many  a  suffering  heart,  and  cheered  many  a  dying 
pillow.  It  has  opened  the  portals  of  the  future  world, 
and  placed  us  face  to  face  with  the  denizens  of  the 
great  hereafter,  and  taught  us  that  there  is  an  omni- 
present, impersonal  God,  who  is  the  Father  of  all 
spirits,  and  that  to  love  and  worship  him  is  man's 
highest  duty  on  earth.' 

"'Is  spiritualism  a  religion,  Doctor.'^' 

"^Yes  :  but  not  a  creed.  It  is  the  religion  of  sci- 
ence, which  is  above  reproach  and  can  not  be  reviled. 
It  stands  on  the  recognized  phenomena  of  natural 
laws.' 

"  '  Have  you  any  preachers  V 

" '  Certainly !  The  earth,  the  mountains,  the  rocks, 
the  sea,  the  stars,  and  the  brave  p'erarching  firma- 
ment, all  excite  the  wonder,  admiration,  and  rever- 
ence of  man.  They  preach  to  him  in  his  hours  of 
solitude,  and  they  are  ever  present  with  him  in  his 
walks.  These  do  not  bear  the  impress  of  human 
art,  but  bespeak  a  power  infinitely  higher  and  nobler 
than  man.  The  air  we  breathe  whispers  of  an  all- 
pervading  God,  and  these  are  his  works.  Why  should 
a  grand  religion  hesitate  to  explain  these  works  of 
the  great  Creator  from  the  pulpit,  or  call  willing 
science  to  her  aid }  Would  it  not  be  wiser  to  dis- 
seminate tracts  embodying  the  simple  truths  of  na- 
ture, rather  than  the  efieminate  fictions  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associations.?  The  sermons  which 
the  Creator  has  written  on  stones,  and  the  hymns 
which  he  sings  in  the  running  brooks,  are  more 
potent  for  good  than  all  the  cant  flummery  of  pulpit 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


178  STARTLING  FACTS  IlSr 

maw-worms,  or  all  the  dignified  mummery  of  scarlet- 
robed  cardinals  or  pontiffs.  If  religion  be  a  serious 
reality,  it  must  be  exemplified  in  the  works  of  God. 
Ill  no  other  way  can  we  comprehend  or  approach 
him.  All  the  -wisdom  of  mortals  is  but  the  veriest 
nonsense,  if  not  derived  from  the  teachings  of  Nature/ 

"'But  I  don't  see  what  all  this  has  to  do  with 
"spirit-raps,"  Doctor,  I  should  think  no  respectable 
person  would  have  any  thing  to  do  with  them/ 

"After  looking  me  steadily  in  thetface  for  half  a 
minute,  he  said  :  '  Mrs.  Hollis,  do  you  know  what  you 
are  talking  about  ?  What  has  respectability  to  do 
with  this  matter  V 

"'O,  I  beg  pardon.  Doctor.     I  didn't  mean  you.' 

"  *  Of  course  you  did  n't,  and  it  would  be  very  diffi- 
cult to  know  exactly  who  or  what  you  did  mean. 
Now,  I  will  forgive  your  offense  on  one  condition  ; 
that  is,  that  you  will  go  with  me  to-morrow  evening 
to  a  spirit-medium,  to  see  and  hear  for  yourself  what 
the  spirits  do  and  say.' 

"To  this  proposal  I  consented,  as  I  did  not  wish 
to  have  the  ill-will  of  the  doctor  ;  but  no  sooner  had 
he  left  the  house,  than  I  began  to  repent  my  rash 
promise. 

"While  in  this  indecision  of  mind,  and  still  re- 
proaching myself  for  my  indiscretion,  the  door-bell 
rang,  to  which  I  gave  immediate  attention.  I  found 
a  gray-haired  old  man  standing  on  the  porch,  who 
half-apologetically  said  : 

"'Madam,  I  have  a  son  in  the  army  who  serves 
in  the  regiment  in  which  your  husband  commands.  I 
haye  not  heard  from  him  for  several  weeks.    I  suppose 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  179 

the  mails  have  been  interrupted  by  the  enemy.  I 
come  to  learn  whether  you  have  received  any  infor- 
mation of  the  movements  of  the  regiment  of  late,  or 
any  special  news  of  the  boys  that  would  interest  us 
home-folks  ?' 

*'After  making  suitable  reply,  and  scanning  the 
anxious  face  of  the  old  man,  he  was  about  turning 
to  leave,  when  he  looked  me  in  the  face,  and  said  : 

'^'I  see  you  have  a  sister  in  the  spirit-world,  and 
she  desires  to  talk  to  you.  She  bids  me  tell  you, 
that  in  less  than  three  months  you  will  see  her  face; 
and  in  less  than  five  years,  you  will  be  a  public  spirit- 
medium,  giving  the  most  remarkable  evidence  through 
your  mediumship  that  the  v^^orld  has  yet  had  of  the 
truth  of  spirit-intercourse.' 

"  Good  heavens !  I  exclaimed,  what  does  all  this 
mean.?  Have  the  spiritualists  conspired  against  me? 
and  have  I  no  protection  from  the  insults  of  these 
people?  Isat  down  to  my  table  in  anger,  and  wrote 
a  note  to  the  doctor,  in  which  I  positively  declined  to 
go  out  of  my  house  on  the  evening  appointed  to  meet 
the  medium.  I  called  my  brother,  and  gave  him  the 
note  with  instructions  where  to  carry  it.  As  I  did 
this,  a  complete  revulsion  in  my  feelings  took  place; 
and,  though  not  much  addicted  to  this  weakness,  I 
broke  down  in  tears. 

*'  I  did  not  send  the  note.  So,  on  the  evening  in 
question,  the  doctor,  my  brother,  and  myself  started  to 
visit  the  medium.  It  was  soon  after  nightfall.  Still  I 
had  taken  the  precaution  to  conceal  my  face  behind 
two  veils,  fearing  I  might  see  somebody  who  would 
recognize  me  going  into  a  spiritualist's  house.     But 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


l8o  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

we  arrived  safely  at  the  door,  which  was  promptly 
opened  to  our  call,  admitting  us  into  an  elegantly 
furnished  and  well-lighted  parlor.  Here  we  met  an 
elderly  German  gentleman,  to  whom  brother  and  I 
were  introduced.  With  the  most  courtly  politeness, 
he  said,  *My  wife  will  soon  be  here.' 

''I  was  no  longer  embarrassed,  but  felt  perfectly 
at  ease,  and  never  more  happy  in  my  life  until  the 
gentleman's  wife  entered  the  room,  when  I  thought 
of  her  as  a  spirit-medium,  and  became  again  fearful 
of  her  extraordinary  power.  She  was  a  tall,  beautiful 
woman,  with  the  most  elegant  manners,  and  a  gentle, 
winning  voice.  She  had  a  boy  in  the  army  of  blue ; 
so  we  soon  made  up  to  each  other,  and  seated  our- 
selves at  the  table. 

"  Here  she  became  entranced.  It  was  the  first 
person  I  had  ever  seen  in  this  condition.  With  her 
eyes  closed,  and  a  pleasant  smile  playing  over  her 
face,  she  said  : 

"*  Sis,  my  darling,  the  old  man  told  you  the  truth. 
You  will  see  Sallie's  face  in  less  than  three  months, 
and  in  less  than  five  years  you  will  become  a  remark- 
able spirit-medium  for  giving  tests  to  the  public. 
You  are  a  selected  instrument  for  doing  great  work, 
and  will  be  gradually  prepared  for  the  mission.  Do 
not,  my  darling,  defeat  the  purposes  of  the  spirit- 
world,  but  keep  your  heart  from  guile  and  your  head 
from  prejudice.  Sit  by  a  table  with  your  mother  for 
an  hour,  every  other  night,  with  your  hands  rest- 
ing upon  the  top,  and  in  less  than  three  months  you 
will  be  well  convinced  of  our  presence.  Good-bye! 
precious  one,  good-bye !' 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  l8l 

"This  communication  was  said  to  be  from  my 
father;  but  as  part  of  it  was  an  exact  copy  of  that 
which  I  had  received  from- the  old  man,  and  to  whom 
allusion  was  made,  I  received  it  with  'a  grain  of  salt' 
Still,  I  determined  to  comply  with  the  request,  as  I 
could  see  no  harm  in  doing  so. 

''After  my  return  home,  I  informed  mother  of  what 
had  taken  place,  and,  contrary  to  my  expectations, 
she  approved  sitting  at  the  table,  as  requested.  We 
attended  to  this  regularly,  and  almost  from  the  first 
we  received,  as  signals  of  the  spirits'  presence,  'show- 
ers of  raps'  almost  every  time  we  sat.  After  two  or 
three  weeks'  experience  in  the  light  circle,  we  were 
requested,  through  the  alphabet,  to  darken  the  room, 
and  sit  in  the  dark.  This  we  did,  and  it  was  so  early 
as  the  second  sitting  in  the  dark  that  I  saw  a  light 
about  as  large  as  a  medium-sized  hand,  of  an  oval 
shape,  as  when  the  palm-surfaces  of  two  hands  are 
put  together,  with  the  fingers  extended.  This  floated 
about  the  room  several  minutes,  and  passed  over  my 
head  three  times,  growing  lighter  and  larger  as  it  did 
so,  until  it  suddenly  stopped  a  few  inches  in  front 
of  my  face.  It  now  gradually  began  to  open,  as  a 
flower  unfolds  its  leaves,  when  in  the  center  of  it  my 
sister  Sallie's  face  was  perfectly  revealed,  more  brill- 
iant and  beautiful  than  it  had  ever  appeared  to  me 
in  life.  'Thank  Heaven!'  I  exclaimed;  '  Sallie  and 
father  still  live.'     The  vision  soon  passed  away." 

"  How  did  it  pass  away,  Mrs.  Hollis  V  I  asked. 

"It  seemed  to  recede  and  grow  dim,  like  a  bird 
flying  in  the  night,  until  it  was  lost  to  view. 

"The  predictions  made  by  the  old  man  and  Ger- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 82  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

man  lady  have  been  singularly  verified.  In  less  than 
three  months,  I  saw  my  sister's  face ;  and,  against  m}^ 
every  thought  and  wish,  I  became  a  public  spirit- 
medium  in  less  than  five  years." 

''  It  has  become  a  source  of  great  pleasure  ta 
you.?" 

'^Yes:  it  has  taken  away  from  me  the  fear  of 
death  ;  but  it  has  invited  the  reproach  of  friends  and 
the  slander  of  foes." 

"  But  you  need  not  care  for  these." 

*'It  is  not  pleasant  to  be  called  bad  names;  to 
be  held  up  in  print  as  a  knave  or  fool;  to  be  de- 
serted by  your  friends,  and  shunned  as  if  afflicted  with 
a  leprosy ;  to  be  told  that  you  will  bring  ruin  on 
yourself  and  disgrace  on  your  family.  I  would  be 
less  than  woman  not  to  feel  this  injustice  keenly. 
And  what  have  I  done  to  deserve  all  this  }  Simply 
that  I  have  discovered  at  my  feet  a  jewel  of  rare 
worth,  that  has  been  trodden  in  the  mire  for  centu- 
ries, and  which  I  have  picked  up.  For  this  I  must 
suffer  all  this  indignity,  though  its  possession  en- 
riches the  world.  O  yes!  I  do  care;  but  I  have 
made  my  vows  to  the  spirit-world — and  will  keep 
them  too — that,  come  what  may  come,  I  will  stead- 
fastly maintain  the  truth  as  I  discern  it." 

This  was  about  the  gist  of  the  conversation  I  had 
with  Mrs.  Mollis  in  reference  to  her  mediumship. 
She  certainly  displayed  some  of  the  material  of 
which  moral  heroes  are  made;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
but,  under  test  conditions,  her  courage  and  resolu- 
tion to.  ''suffer  and  be  strong"  would  challenge  the 
respect  and  admiration  of  all  persons  who  were  not 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 83 

themselves  cowards  by  instinct,  and  base-born  rascals 
by  nature. 

Having  satisfied  myself  of  the  integrity  of  the 
medium^s  character,  I  entered  the  dark  circle  that 
evening  with  less  suspicion  in  my  mind  than  on  any 
previous  occasion.  The  circle  was  made  up  of  neigh- 
bors, and  one  or  two  members  of  Mrs.  Hollis's  family. 
Among  the  former  was  Dr.  Hugh  Preissler,  his  wife, 
and  their  son  Julius.  Mrs.  Hollis's  mother  was  also 
present. 

The  circle  was  held  in  the  front  parlor,  and,  to  fit 
it  for  the  occasion,  no  other  preparation  was  neces- 
sary than  simply  to  close  the  window-blinds  and  the 
doors  communicating  with  the  hall.  The  light  was 
then  extinguished,  and  but  a  very  brief  time  elapsed 
before  a  spirit- voice,  addressing  Dr.  Preissler  in  good 
German,  said  : 

*' Wie  gehts,  Hugo,  mein  lieber  Sohn  T 

''  Mutter,  wie  geht  es  dir  ?  Ich  freue  mich  sehr 
dich  zu  sehen,"  replied  the  doctor. 

'*  Willst  du  mit  mir  singen  T  again  said  the  voice. 

**  Ja,  Mutter,  was  wollen  wir  singen.^"  answered 
Dr.  Preissler. 

**  Der  Kukuk,"  said  the  spirit. 

Hereupon  the  doctor,  who  had  brought  his  guitar, 
and  is  aw  excellent  performer,  began  to  thrum  in  low. 
tones  a  simple  but  very  beautiful  ballad  tune. 

After  a  symphony  had  been  played,  a  voice,  said 
to  be  Dr.  Preissler's  mother,  sang  most  touchingly  the 
following  German  song,  in  an  audible  and  strangely 
sweet,  clear  voice: 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 84 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


^^KUKUK." 


Voice. 


Guitav, 


&=3^ 


jgpaiafaM- 


■^MZI^. 


U 


Ein    Schafenriadclien   wei  -  dete  zvvei  Liimmchen  an  der 


5#=fc 


& p. & ZWjTst. fi_fi. ^-T*^ ff et .eJZ 


XXX 


-J— -l] — ) — ^-    _ 


^ 


4S= 


:^±it: 


g^— ^- 


I 


itfc^I 


:t:st 


^i£ 


Hund,      Auf    ei  -  ner  Flur,  wo  fet-terK]ee  iind  Gansebliimclien 


VP^, 


_0 ^_e 


_fi__L^_ 


1 1 1 Y-V  0 0 p — ^— Lj 1 )^ ^_L 


B' 6/ Ey -Bf—  ,. 

0 » © #-- Lj 1 )0 IP- 


-^S-i-^^-i 


Da  lior-te    sie  deim  oft  im  Hain  deii  Vo  -  gel  Knkiil< 

\)    \)\)  \^    ^^    \)     V 


rf- 


j  ^^  s 


|g=g» 


3zi?-= 


iszr?;:tist 


iWl 


I 


lustig  sclirein  :  Kukuk,    Kukiik, 


Kukiik,  Knkiik,  Ku  -  laik- ! 


it 


P— p-© J-i— i — I ^'0 — ©-©— i^Ji 1 K \r/-\ — 1 — [—- LL 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  185 

Once  or  twice  the  voice  faltered  a  little,  when  the 
doctor  assisted  by  sounding  a  note  or  two,  which 
seemed  to  give  it  renewed  assurance  of  its  power. 
After  this  spirit-solo  was  sung,  Mrs.  Preissler  sang 
several  German  songs,  in  which  two  or  three  spirits 
engaged,  carrying  the  different  parts  of  the  music 
with  judgment  and  precision.  Dr.  Preissler  informs 
me  that  the  '/ Kukuk "  was  a  nursery  ballad,  which 
his  mother  sang  to  him  when  a  child,  and  that  she 
passed  to  the  spirit-world  in  1832. 

As  soon  as  the  singing  had  concluded,  Jimmy 
Nolan  saluted  every  person  in  the  circle,  and  called 
them  by  name.     To  me  he  said  : 

''Good  evening,  Doctor!  I'm  glad  to  see  you! 
You  have  come  a  long  way  to  satisfy  yourself,  and  I 
hope  you  will  not  stop  until  you  are  quite  convinced. 
Can  I  be  of  any  service  to  you  T' 

"  You  can.     Is  my  mother  present  T' 

"She  is;  but  she  can  not  talk." 

''  Will  you  talk  for  her  .?" 

''  Yes :  for  a  short  time.  There  are  a  great  many 
spirits  here  who  want  to  talk  ;  so  your  time  is  brief." 

''I  have  nothing  to  ask.  Has  she  any  thing  to 
say.?" 

''  She  says  you  have  been  very  kind  to  -— - — ,  and 
she  blesses  you  for  it.  She  says,  don't  sell  the 
house.     He  will  have  no  home  if  you  do." 

"But  is  it  not  better  to  sell  the  house  than  to 
encourage  the  continuance  of  his  infirmity.?" 

"  O  no  :  don't  sell  the  house." 

"But  I  will,  unless  you  convince  me  that  it  is  not 
best  to  do  so." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 86  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"  What  will  the  poor  boy  do  ?" 

**  He  must  reform,  and  drink  less." 

''But  you  ought  to  be  charitable,  my  son." 

"  Is  it  a  charity,  mother,  to  encourage in  his 

degradation?  Do  you  not  see  that  the  more  means 
he  has,  the  more  he  will  indulge  in  his  unfortunate 
habit  ?  I  deplore  his  condition  as  much  as  you  ;  but 
is  it  not  more  wise  to  apply  the  remedy  than  to  cuddle 
the  disease  ?" 

''Your  mother  says  you  are  right;  but  it  is  very 
hard.'* 

"  On  the  transgressor  it  is  ;  but  is  it  not  best  V 
This  was  the  substance  of  the  conversation  I  had 
with  my  mother.  It  was  short,  and  on  an  unpleasant 
subject,  in  which  was  introduced  the  name  of  one  who 
is  an  object  of  deepest  pity  to  his  family  and  friends. 
This  familiarity  with  family  matters  is  one  of  the 
most  striking  characteristics  of  the  communicative 
Nolan.  He  seems  to  know  all  about  your  personal 
affairs.     He  next  said  : 

"Marshal   Ney   and    the    Empress   Josephine   are 
here  !     They  belong  to  your  band." 

"  I  was  not  aware  of  having  a  band." 
"  You  are  quite  excusable  for  not  knowing." 
"  I    hope    so.      Ignorance    ought    not    to    be    an 
offense !" 

"  It  is  not ;  but  a  crime  !" 
"A  crime!     In  what  particular.'*" 
"  In   every    thing   that    entails    suffering  on   you. 
Ignorance  is   the   devil    which  destroys   your    happi- 
ness,  and   unfits   you  for  the  higher   enjoyments  of 
life." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  \%j 

'*  But  do  you  think  we  ought  to  be  punished  for 
not  knovvino^  a  thins:?'* 

"What  I  think  has  no  important  bearing  on  the 
question.    That  which  is,  is  all  that  should  interest  us.'* 

**Well,  but  there  ought  to  be  pardon  for  mistakes 
that  are  committed  through  ignorance." 

''That  would  be  asking,  as  a  premium  to  igno- 
rance, the  suspension  of  natural  laws."   - 

"  How  r 

''Why,  by  not  understanding  the  law  of  gravita- 
tion, you  would  suspend  its  action,  lest  it  hurt  some- 
body who  walked  over  a  precipice.  Disease  is  the 
penalty  of  violated  laws  of  health,  as  the  hurt  of  the 
fall  is  a  consequence  and  penalty  for  disregarding  the 
law  of  gravitation." 

'•But,  James  Nolan,  don't  God  at  any  time  afflict 
us  with  disease  as  a  mark  of  his  displeasure  .?" 

"Always!  Physical  law  is  the  tribunal  before 
which  he  tries  wicked  saints  and  pious  sinners." 

"And  does  he  make  no  distinction  in  his  awards 
of  punishments  and  grace.?" 

"Certainly!  But,  in  his  chancery,  the  verdicts  of 
men  are  often  reversed,  and  final  decisions  of  justice 
made." 

"Always  in  favor  of  the  saint .?" 

"  Rather  always  against  the  sinner,  who  is  some- 
times a  conventional  saint." 

"  The  saint  becomes  a  sinner,  if  he  disobeys  ?" 

"  Certainly  !     Why  not  T 

"  But,  James  Nolan,  we  have  a  great  many  saints 
here  who  are  afflicted  with  bodily  infirmity,  who  are 
'patient  and  long-suffering,'  as  the  man  of  Uz." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 88  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"Job  had  scrofula,  and  inherited  the  disease  from 
his  ill-mated  parents.  His  father  was  not  a  saint. 
Job's  condition  is  sufficient  testimony  to  show  that 
fact." 

"Your  opinions  are  a  trifle  irreverent." 

"Bosh!     Are  they  true  ?" 

"  But,  James—  " 

"Don't  be  shocked,  Doctor;  you  can  stand  it." 

"But  others,  you  know,  may—" 

"Take  care  of  themselves.  It  won't  do  them  any 
harm.  I'm  pretty  well  acquainted  in  this  house,  and, 
by  frequently  speaking  the  truth,  protect  them  against 
the  penalties  of  error." 

"O,  very  well  ;  if  it  is  a  free  concert,  we  can  all 
sing." 

"  Sing  out !" 

"You  don't  seem  to  have  much  reverence  for 
good  people,  James  !" 

"  I  have  great  reverence  for  good  people  !" 

"  But  you  speak  irreverently  of  Job's  sores.  Was 
he  not  a  man  of  God  T' 

"  You  know  what  a  sOre  is,  Doctor !  It  comes 
either  from  depravity  or  poverty  of  blood." 

"  But  you  speak  of  Job  as  if  he  was  only  a  common 
man," 

"  No  :  he  was  uncommonly  sore !" 

"But  Job  lamented  much.?" 

"He  had  much  cause!" 

"  He  was  true  to  God  T 

"  But  not  his  laws  !" 

"  How  know  you  that  ?" 

"  His  sores  !" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 89 

*'  Do  they  make  him  a  sinner  ?" 

"  They  only  proclaim  the  sin." 

"  Good  health  and  purity  of  blood  is  your  stand- 
ard of  saintship.     Your  religion  is  a  physical  one." 

**  Yes,  and  no.  Good  health  is  something  to  value. 
It  is  the  reward  of  perfect  obedience  to  natural  laws. 
A  man  in  good  health  is  much  nearer  the  standard  of 
perfection  than  a  man  in  bad  health.  Saintship  is  a 
figment  of  the  mind,  as  air-drawn  and  subtile  as  the 
lovely  phantoms,  sylphs,  and  gnomes  of  the  mystical 
Rosicrucians." 

^' But  good  health  is  only  a  physical  condition, 
which  the  animal  enjoys  as  well  as  man." 

''And  is  that  any  reason  why  man  should  not 
enjoy  it }  Do  you  think  it  too  good  for  God's  crea- 
tures .'*  Be  careful  how  you  strike  St.  Hog,  or  you^ll 
hear  a  squeal  on  'change.  For  shame.  Doctor,  on  your 
puerile  conception  of  the  goodness  of  God.  Let  me 
tell  you  something,  which  you  may  already  know. 

"The  purpose  of  human  life  is  to  mature  a  spir- 
itual being.  To  this  end  a  perfect  physical  organiza- 
tion is  necessary.  If  such  can  not  be  had,  the  perfect 
spirit  can  not  unfold  itself  The  perfect  man  must 
have  had  a  perfect  father  and  mother,  inheriting  wis- 
dom as  well  as  physical  perfection." 

Here  James  Nolan  left  me  to  my  thoughts,  wliile 
he  spoke  to  different  members  of  the  circle,  with  the 
same  freedom  with  which  he  had  addressed  me.  He 
is  certainly  a  wonder  to  every  man  who  hears  him. 
He  speaks  quickly  and  pointedly  on  every  subject 
presented,  and  makes  no  mistakes,  retractions,  or 
modifications  in  his  remarks. 

^9 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


190 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


After  be  had  concluded,  and  other  spirits  had 
spoken,  a  brief  interval  of  silence  transpired,  when 
suddenly  there  arose,  like  tiny  rockets  or  fire-flies, 
from  the  vicinity  of  Mrs.  Hollis's  head,  a  number  of 
spirit-lights.  These  floated  in  beautiful  curvilinear 
lines  around  the  room,  passing  sometimes  very  near 
our  faces,  and  with  rapid  motion.  They  gradually 
lessened  their  speed,  until  one  of  these  lights,  rather 
larger  than  the  rest,  stopped  for  a  few  seconds  in 
front  of  my  face.  While  my  attention  was  fixed  upon 
the  luminous  body,  I  discovered  it  to  be  held  by 
tiny  fingers;  and,  almost  coinstantial,  the  full  face  of 
a  child  appeared  behind  the  light  The  object  could 
be  distinctly  seen,  though  only  for  a  few  seconds. 

Several  others  in  the  circle  were  similarly  favored. 

The  light  emitted  no  radiance,  and  exhibited  more 
the  properties  of  phosphorus  or  V' fox-fire"  than  it  did 
of  heat  and  combustion— a  pale,  bluish  light. 

The  seance  lasted  about  two  hours,  and  furnished 
me  much  food  for  reflection. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  igi 


CHAPTER  X. 

MRS.  HOLLIS'S  ENGAGEMIlNTS  — TABLE -WRITING— A 
FRENCH  COMMUNICATION  TO  THE  AUTHOR— OUT- 
DOOR WRiriNG  — SPRING  GROVE  — SPH^IT-HANDS 
HANDLING  MONEY— THREE  HANDS  UNDER  THE 
TA13LE. 

nnHE  mind  becomes  peculiarly  interested  when  it 
J-  begins  to  inquire  after  the  hidden  truths  of 
spirit  phenomena.  The  desire  for  more  information 
on  the  subject  is  unappeasable,  the  appetite  becomes 
whetted  and  keen,  the  relish  more  exquisite,  and  the 
craving  more  intolerant.  '*I  must  know  more  of  this," 
is  the  uttered  or  unexpressed  resolution  of  every 
intelligent  man  that  seeks  to  explore  the  mysteries 
of  spirit  manifestations. 

Stimulated  by  feelings  of  this  kind,  I  made  ar- 
rangements with  Mrs.  Hollis  for  so  much  of  her  time 
as  would  enable  me  to  examine  carefully,  and  under 
the  most  favorable  circumstances,  the  extraordinary 
phenomena  occurring  in  her  presence.  For  this  priv- 
ilege I  agreed  to  pay  her  more  than  she  was  receiving 
from  the  public  for  the  amount  of  time  consumed. 
In  making  this  arrangement,  I  was  governed  by  the 
maxim,  that  ''whatever  is  worth  doing  at  all,  is  worth 
doing  well."  I  reasoned,  if  these  phenomena  are 
true,   a   knowledge   of   the   fircts    will    be    an    ample 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


t()2  STARTLING  FACTS  IiV 

compensation  for  all  the  time  and  money  I  devote 
to  their  investigation.  If  they  are  false,  the  soonei 
I  am  assured  of  that,  the  better  for  myself 

To  afford  me  greater  facilities  to  carry  out  my 
purpose,  Mrs.  Hollis  consented,  to  visit  my  house 
during  the  time,  v^here  the  manifestations  could  be 
more  critically  scrutinized  than  in  the  house  of  a 
stranger.  Her  stipulation  was  simply  a  quiet  room, 
with  as  little  intrusion  from  the  public  as  possible, 
and  also  that  she  might  not  be  kept  too  constantly 
engaged,  as  her  health  had  become  somewhat  en- 
feebled -by  too  close  confinement  to  the  circle-rooms. 
Of  course,  in  all  things  I  acceded  to  her  wishes. 

My  first  engagement  was  for  two  weeks.  This 
she  began  on  the  15th  of  September,  1871,  termi- 
nating it  on  the  ist  of  October  following,  when  she 
returned  to  Louisville.  She  remained  at  home  until 
the  1st  of  November,  when  her  seco7td  engagement 
f)r  six  weeks  commenced,  extending  to  the  12th  De- 
cember. After  this,  she  made  a  visit  to  New  Orleans, 
where  she  spent  the  Winter,  and  on  her  return  com- 
menced her  //^/r^  engagement,  for  five  weeks,  on  the 
25th  of  April,  1872,  and  terminated  it  on  the  1st  of 
June  following.  The  fourth  engagement  was  for. 
seven  weeks,  commencing  on  the  20th  of  August, 
and  extending  to  the  latter  part  of  September.  A 
month  later,  she  began  an  engagement  of  four  weeks, 
being  \\\q  fifth  in  the  series,  and,  after  filling  it,  went 
south,  spending  the  Winter  months  in  Memphis  and 
New  Oileans.  She  returned  home  in  the  Spring, 
when  I  made  my  sixth  and  final  engagement  with  her 
foi  six  weeks,  beginning  on  the  15th  of  March,  1873, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPmiTUAUSM.  1 93 

and  terminating  on  the   1st  of  May.     It  will  be  seen 
that  I  had  of  her  time  : 


In  the  first  engagement,     ....  I  wo  weeks. 

"       second  engagemeni,       .      .     .  six  weeks. 

"       third  engagement,  .     .     .     .  five  weeks. 

"       fourth  engagement,    ....  seven  weeks. 

"       fifth  engagement,     ....  four  weeks. 

"       sixth  engagement,     .     .     .     .  six  weeks. 

Aggregating,  during  the  two  years,  tJiirty  weeks, 
or  more  than  twenty-five  per  centum  of  her  entire 
time,  in  which  to  examine  or  witness  the  phenomena 
recorded  in  the  following  pages.  It  is  only  fair  to 
state  that  the  testimony  I  offer  was  obtained  under 
.most  favorable  circumstances,  and  after  patient,  plod- 
ding, and  persevering  investigation.  I  left  no  reason- 
able means  untried  to  discover  the  truth  at  the  bottom 
of  this  great  wonder.  And  it  is  but  just  to  say,  if  I 
have  not  succeeded  in  my  purpose,  it  was  not  to  the 
lack  of  industry  or  good-will  on  my  part  that  the 
failure  is  to  be  ascribed.  There  may  be  those  who 
would  have  theorized  more  about  the  phenomena  than 
I  ;  but  an  apple  is  an  apple!  The  fool  and  philos- 
opher can  attest  alike,  and  with  equal  credibility,  to 
that  '"fact." 

But,  now  that  I  am  about  to  begin  a  record  of 
marvelous  incidents,  which,  because  they  antagonize 
popular  errors,  will  excite  a  great  amount  of  un- 
friendly criticism,  I  am  somewhat  confused  to  know 
just  exactly  how  to  arrange  them,  that  they  may  be 
the  more  compactly  and  clearly  presented  to  the 
mind  of  the  reader.  My  desire  is  to  make  a  full  and 
fair  statement  of  what  I  saw,  heard,   and  felt,  with 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


1 94  STARTL ING  FA CTS  IN 

as  little  ambiguity  as  possible.  In  doing  this,  it  is 
already  apparent  to  my  mind,  after  a  careful  survey 
of  my  notes  and  memoranda,  that  I  will  be  unable 
to  present  more  thiin  a  tithe  of  the  matter  in  hand, 
without  transcending  the  prescribed  limits  of  my 
writing.  I  must,  therefore,  confine  myself  to  repre- 
sentative phenomena,  wherein 

"  But  a  part  is  seen,  and  not  the  whole." 

Let  that  be  borne  in  mind. 

When  Mrs.  Hollis  first  came  to  my  house,  she 
was  in  feeble  health,  caused,  as  she  said,  by  sitting 
too  constantly  in  the  circle-rooms.  I  thought  it  best, 
therefore,  to  delay  holding  semices  for  a  few  days, 
until  by  rest  she  had  recovered  her  strength.  It  was 
not  my  intention  to  examine  this  matter  hastily — to 
carry  my  investigations  forward  on  a  swell  of  excite- 
ment, that  would  leave  me  floundering  on  the  beach 
of  speculation,  when  the  tide-wave  of  facts  had  ebbed 
from  under  me.  I  desired  to  make  haste  slowly,  to 
familiarize  myself  with  the  conditions,  and  to  become 
better  acquainted  with  the  tendency  of  the  medium's 
mind.  For  I  still  adhere  to  the  unfashionable  con- 
viction, that,  if  the  mental  character  of  a  medium  is 
unreliable,  the  manifestations  occurring  in  the  pres- 
ence of  such  medium  will,  in  some  measure,  be 
tinctured  with  the  same  characteristic.  I,  therefore, 
never  entirely  disassociate  personal  character  with 
spirit-phenomena.  Both  are  worth  studying — the 
*'Scylla  and  Charybdis,"  between  which  lies  the 
golden  mean  of  truth.  A  perfect  instrument  will 
make  perfect  harmony. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  195 

In  a  few  days  it  was  evident  that  the  carriage- 
drives,  morning  and  evening,  over  Walnut  Hills, 
through  the  charming  retreats  of  Avondale,  and  along 
the  imperial  highways  of  matchless  Clifton,  had  a 
most  salutary  effect  upon  the  medium's  health.  It  was 
to  her  wasted  strength  the  *'  vis  medicatrix  naiurcBl* 
and  she  soon  announced  herself  well  enough  to  begin 
work. 

In  reply  to  my  inquiry,  Mrs.  Hollis  informed  me 
that,  after  sitting  at  the  table  for  two  or  three  hours, 
holding  the  slate,  or  in  the  dark  for  a  similar  length 
of  time,  she  became  so  feeble  from  loss  of  strength 
that  frequently  she  could  scarcely  get  to  her  room 
before  entire  prostration  would  overtake  her.  I  have 
since  then  seen  her  so  much  exhausted  by  sitting, 
as  to  fall  unconscious  from  her  chair  ;  and  that,  too, 
while  the  spirits  were  giving  the  most  astounding 
manifestations. 

Allusion  has  frequently  been  made  to  this  con- 
dition of  Mrs.  Hollis ;  and,  by  those  who  are  most 
ignorant  of  the  whole  subject  of  mediumship,  it  seems 
to  furnish  a  fertile  theme  for  personal  suspicion,  stupid 
satire,  and  abortive  wit.  Addle-pated  fellows  may 
sneer  and  snivel  at  a  truth  they  can  not  comprehend. 
So  may  a  moth  flap  its  painted  wings  against  a  rock; 
but  what  then  I 

The  explanation  is,  that  when  the  spirits  write 
on  the  slate,  or  speak  in  the  dark  circle,  or  materi- 
alize their  presence  in  the  cabinet,  they  must  always 
put  the  medium  under  contribution  for  a  full  supply 
of  vitalized  magnetism,  which  they  make  use  of  in  giv- 
ing the  manifestation.     By  this  is  meant  the  element 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Tg6  STARTLING  FACTS  IlSr 

of  strength  —  the  life-principle  which  the  medium 
possesses.  It  is  possible  for  spirits  to  make  a  fatal 
demand  upon  the  vital  resources  of  the  medium,  and, 
from  the  observations  I  have  made  on  the  brevity 
of  mediumistic  life,  my  mind  is  not  clear  that  this  is 
not  frequently  done. 

I  speak  of  this  circumstance  more  particularly 
now,  because  I  must  refer  to  it  often  in  my  descrip- 
tions of  seances  hereafter;  and  also  that  the  ingen- 
uous reader  may  understand  wliat  is  meant  when 
I  say:  **  The  medium  became  exhausted;"  ''Her 
strength  failed;"  *' She  complained  of  feeling  sick;" 
*' Her  power  gave  out;"  or,  ''She  grew  so  weak 
that  the  manifestation  stopped." 

Pusillanimous  people  have,  in  their  sickly  con- 
ceits, sneered  at  these  phrases,  and  commented  on 
them  as  if  they  were  admissions  of  half-concealed 
guilt.  Of  course,  the  drivel  of  such  idiots  only  shows 
how  much  they  "hanker  after  crow."  Their  moral 
nature  is  poisoned  with  dishonesty,  and  their  mental 
condition  can  scarcely  be  distinguished  from  animal 
ignorance.  Indeed,  their  capacity  for  enlightened 
criticism  may  be  measured  by  the  smallest  decimal 
part  of  an  intellectual  cube.  Well-informed  men 
and  women  vyill  seek  to  discover  and  explain  the 
law;  but  chattering  charlatans  of  the  pulpit  and 
the  press  defame  those  who  espouse  and  wed  eternal 
principles. 

The  mysterious  manifestations  I  have  witnessed 
in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Hollis  may  be  arranged  under 
three  forms  of  expression  ;  and  it  is  my  purpose  to 
speak  of  them  under  these,  several    heads,  .that  they 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  \  97 

may  be  more  clearly  comprehencled  by  the  reader. 
The  first  is  the  mysterious  writing  in  the  light;  the 
second  is  the  mysterious  talking  in  the  dark;  and 
the  third  is  the  mysterious  materialization  of  faces, 
forms,  hands,  flowers,  etc.,  in  the  dark,  but  which  are 
exhibited  in  the  light. 

I  have  witnessed  all  these  forms  of  expression  in 
one  and  the  same  hour;  but  I  have  also  seen  so  much 
diversity  of  manifestation,  that,  if  I  attempted  to  write 
of  them  in  the  order  of  their  occurrence,  it  would 
be  an  endless  task,  and  less '  instructive  than  if 
the  phenomena  were  classified  under  proper  heads. 
J  propose,  therefore,  to  record  the  marvels  of  the 
mysterious  writing  first;  then,  such  as  occurred  in 
the  dark  circle;  after  which  I  will  make  a  faithful 
report  of  the  materializations. 

When  Mrs.  Hollis  began  her  writing,  or  table- 
manifestations  in  my  parlors,  I  requested  her  to  use 
different  slates  and  pencils,  such  as  I  would  furnish 
her  from  time  to  time.  I  have  already  described  the 
method  of  holding  the  slate,  and  the  caution  with 
which  I  examined  the  table,  to  satisfy  myself  that  it 
was  physically  impossible  for  her  to  do  the  writ- 
ing. In  all  announced  experiments  in  the  future,  it 
must  be  taken  for  granted  that  all  these  precau- 
tions were  observed  before  the  manifestations  were 
given. 

The  writing-table  has  a  peculiar  and  fascinating 
interest  about  it.  You  sit  beside  it,  or  in  front  of 
Mrs.  Hollis,  and  while  you  engage  her  in  conversa- 
tion, you  hear  the  friction  of  the  pencilon  the  slate. 
It  moves  rapidly  or  slowly,,  making  long  strokes  loud, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


igS  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

and  short  strokes  low.  That  is  a  curious  thing  to 
think  about  ;  but  can  you  guess  who  it  is  that  is 
writing  ?  Try,  for  the  fun  of  it !  See  how  near  you 
can  come  to  the  truth.  You  may  mention  the  names 
of  a  score  of  friends  who  have  passed  to  the  spirit- 
world,  those  who  would  be  likely  to  write  to  you  if 
they  could.  Now,  make  your  guess!  It  is  none  of 
those  you  have  mentioned;  and  you  can  not  think 
of  any  other  person  that  would  be  likely  to  write  to 
you,  even  if  they  had  the  opportunity  of  doing  so.  Be 
patient !  The  writing  will  soon  cease,  then  we  can 
see  who  has  thought  of  us.  There  are  the  *'raps" 
that  indicate  the  completeness  of  the  message.  ''Ah, 
who  is  this  T  **  Isaac  !  Isaac  Pusey  :"  so  it  is  !  My 
old  friend  Isaac!  Well,  what  does  he  say.?  Let 
us  see : 

*' Friend  Wolfe, — This  is  the  second  time  I  luive  written 
to  thee  since  1  passed  from  the  form.     How  does  thee  do  .? 

Isaac  Pusey." 

Well,  is'ht  that  'cute!  Who  would  have  thought 
of  him  writing } 

''Who  is  Isaac  Pusey?"  asked  Mrs.  Hollis,  as  she 
read  the  brief  note  on  the  slate. 

"He's  an  old  friend  of  mine.  He  says  he  has 
written  to  me  once  before.  I  guess  that  is  a  mis- 
take!" 

As  I  said  this,  a  hard  rap  sounded  under  the 
table,  which  indicated  a  negative  reply  to  my  remarks. 
T  asked  Mrs,  Hollis  if  she  remembered  the  name  ;  but 
she  could  not  recall  it.     I  said: 

"Friend  Isaac,  when  did  you  write  to  me  before? 
Please  answer  on  the  slate !" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  1 99 

The   slate  was   held    under    the   table,    when   the 

following  was  quickly  indited  : 

"Tbrougli  Mansfield,  in  i860.  Tliee  reported  it  in  Davis's 
paper." 

I  referred  to  the  Herald  of  Progress,  and  found 

his  statement  to  be  correct,  my  conjecture  false,  and 

so  announced  the  fact.     He  immediately  wrote: 

"My  memory  is  better  than  thine.  Thee  finds  it  hard  to 
remember  ;  we  find  it  hard  to  forget." 

I  recognized  this  name.  It  belonged  to  a  ''friend," 
an  old  companion,  with  whom  many  pleasant  hours 
of  my  early  manhood  had  been  passed.  He  was 
''native  and  to  the  manor  born,"  in  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania.  That  will  account  for  his  plain  speech. 
But  I  do  n't  know  whether  this  writing  was  executed 
by  Isaac  Pusey.  Well,  that  is  a  matter  of  indifference 
to  me.  I  take  more  interest  in  knowing  hozv  the 
writing  was  done.  That  is  the  curious  point  around 
which  my  speculations  revolve.  It  may  or  may  not 
have  been  Isaac  Pusey  that  did  the  writing;  but  if 
he  did  not,  who  did  }  That  is  a  leading  question. 
It  could  not  do  itself. 

I  will  try  Isaac  again.  "  Will  you  please  tell  me 
something  about  Columbia,  by  which  I -may  know 
more  positively  it  is  you  writing.?" 

The  slate  was  held  as  before ;  and,  while  expecting 
a  direct  reply  to  my  question,  when  the  slate  was 
withdrawn,  the  following  line  was  all  that  was  found 
written  upon  it : 

"How  do  you  do,  uncle.'*" 

The  writer  was  evidently  a  different  person  ;  so 
I  said,  "  Who  is  this  T 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


200  STARTLING  FACTS  TiV 

"George  M.  Booth/'  was  quickly  written. 

"I'm  glad  you  are  here,  George.  Have  you  any 
thing  to  say  ?" 

"  Tell  mother  I  have  been  here !" 

"I  will  !     Any  thing  else  ?" 

"And  Mary!" 

"All  right.     What  more.?" 
/a'm  happy!" 

"  What  next  r 

"Father  is  here,  and  the  rest!" 

"What  do  you  mean  by  *  the  rest  V" 

"  I  never  thought  it  was  this  way  !  Grandmother, 
Jacob  Tyler,  Aunt  Betsy,  Uncle  John  Lockard, 
Charles  Odell,  Aunt  Hannah,  Nathaniel,  Elizabeth, 
and  Amanda." 

"  Give  them  my  love.     Can  any  of  them  write  T' 

"Good-bye,  uncle;;  that^s  all!" 

The  preceding  colloquy  took  place,  one  evening 
about  sunset.  Mrs.  Hollis  had  been  out  riding,  and 
had  just  returned.  Before  taking  off  her  wrappings, 
I  requested  her  to  hold  the  slate,  to  see  if  any  writing 
would  come.     The  foregoing  was  the  result. 

It  was,  of  course,  a  surprise.  The  facts  in  the 
case  are  these:  I  have  a  nephew  in  the  spirit-world 
by  the  name  of  George  M.  Booth.  His  mother  is 
my  sister.  Mary  is  the  name  of  his  wife.  The 
names  written  on  the  slate  belonged  to  kinsfolks, 
who  are  all  in  the  spirit-world.  Now,  as  to  whether 
George  M.  Booth,  my  nephew,  wrote  the  communi- 
cation I  transcribed  from  the  slate,  and  have  faithfully 
reported  above,  I  can  not,  of  course,  tell.  It  may 
have  been  some  other  George  M.  Booth  ox  somebody 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  201 

else  representing  him.  I  only  know  it  was  not  Mrs. 
Hollis  who  did  the  writing,  and  that  fact  is  sufficient 
for  my  purpose.  If  the  reader  will  insist  on  knowing 
/zow  it  zv as  done,  and  who  did  it y  he  must  furnish  his 
own  explanations. 

There  is  very  little  in  either  of  the  communica- 
tions that  is  worthy  of  a  second  thought.  The  impor- 
tance of  both  is  pivoted  on  the  fact  that  they  afford 
testimony  to  prove  that  the  channels  of  communica- 
tion have  been  opened  between  the  natural  and  the 
spirit-world.     That  is  the  point  of  interest  with  me. 

The  bare  fact  that  a  spirit  can  communicate  at  all 
in  this  manner  is  of  importance  to  the  world.  It 
implies  that  a  million  of  spirits  may  do  the  same 
thing,  through   the  same  general  law. 

To  secure  the  better  tests  when  I  sat  at  the  table, 
I  very  rarely  expressed  or  entertained  any  desire  that 
a  particular  spirit  should  communicate.  I  had  rea- 
son to  believe,  ''when  my  mind  was  made  up"  to 
hear  from  a  particular  spirit,  whether  they  had  the 
power  to  communicate  or  not,  that  I  was  more  fre- 
quently disappointed  than  obliged.  To  be  in  the 
best  condition  is  to  be  passive;  let  come  what  will, 
receive  it  quietly,  and  as  gratefully  as  possible.  If 
you  disturb  the  passivity  of  the  medium,  you  will 
certainly  mnr  the  excellence  of  your  communication. 
Like  a  calm  lakelet,  mirroring  every  object  with 
entire  fidelity,  must  be  the  condition  of  her  mind. 
The  slightest  agitation  of  the  placid  water  will 
destroy  the  image,  or  reflect  it  in  grotesque  forms. 

"Pshaw!  I  don't  want  to  hear  from  you!  T 
want  to  hear  from  dear  Charley!" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


202  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

This  cool  reception  of  a  spirit,  who,  perhaps,  was 
preparing  the  conditions  for  ''Charley"  to  write, 
spoiled  the  whole  arrangement,  and  the  petulant 
idiot  was  disappointed.  My  habit  was  to  remain  neu- 
tral, and  to  permit  any  spirit  to  write  that  possessed 
the  power.  Give  them  welcome,  encouragement,  and, 
if  need  be,  advice. 

In  pursuing  this  policy,  I  always  obtained  reliable 
manifestations.  The  conditions  became  so  harmon- 
ized, that  at  times  it  was  woi  necessary  for  Mrs.  Hollis 
to  hold  the  slate  at  all,  but  simply  to  place  her  hafids, 
on  the  top  of  the  table,  zvhile  I  Jield  the  slate  beneath. 
The  ivriting  at  such  times  wonld  come  the  same  as  if 
she  herself  Jiad  held  the  slate.  That  was  the  triumph 
of  harmony  over  discord,  and  the  key  that  unlocked 
the  outer  door  to  the  mystery  of  mediumship.  If  I 
had  entertained  any  unfair  suspicion,  up  to  this  time, 
that  Mrs.  Hollis  had  been,  in  any  culpable  sense,  the 
author  of  the  writing  on  the  slate,  the  reception  of 
the  following  communication  in  French,  while  I  held 
the  slate  myself  under  the  table,  entirely  removed 
every  shadow  of  such  doubt  from  my  mind. 

I  said,  "  Mrs.  Hollis,  as  an  experiment,  allow  me 
to  hold  the  slate  under  the  table,  while  you  simply 
place  your  hands  on  the  top,  in  full  view." 

**I  don't  think  they  will  be  able  to  write,"  she 
replied  ;  **  but  I'll  do  it." 

After  cleaning  the  slate  well,  sitting  opposite  to 
Mrs.  Hollis  at  the  table,  her  two  hands  lying  on 
the  top,  my  left-hand  resting  on  them,  and  with  my 
right-hand  holding  the  slate  under  the  table,  in  a 
few    seconds    I    felt    it    touched,    then    stroked     or 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  20$ 

caressed;  and  finally  I  felt  a  pressure  on  the  slate, 
and  heard  the  friction  of  the  pencil  gliding  over  its 
surface.  I  spoke  of  it,  I  fear,  with  some  excitement ; 
for  it  was  a  new  sensation,  and  a  new  experience  to 
me.  On  withdrawing  the  slate,  I  was  amazed  to  find 
the  following  upon  it,  written  in  good,  legible  char- 
acters : 

'^Je  vetix  trottver  Jiomme  que  est  hoimete  voudrez-votis 
concerez  vojis  bien  ce  que  je  vons  dis.  Ney." 

What  did  it  mean  ?  Neither  Mrs.  Hollis  nor  my- 
self were  qualified  to  translate  the  writing.  So  I 
copied  it  hurriedly,  and  may  have  made  some  mis- 
takes in  doing  so.  The  writing  was  a  little  strange, 
and  it  may  have  been  written  incorrectly.  I  now 
regret  that  ?i  facsimile  of  the  communication  could 
not  have  been  obtained.  It  would  have  been  so  much 
more  accurate  and  satisfactory  to  the  reader  than  the 
transcription  I  made  of  it.  It  might  have  saved  such 
a  useless  criticism  as  the  following  from  being  made — 
useless,  as  it  does  not  meet  the  object  intended  in 
presenting  it  to  the  public.     The  critic  says  : 

"Why  should  the  spirit  of  Ney  write  imperfect  or  iingram- 
matical  French  when  disembodied,  unless  when  embodied  he 
could  write  no  other.?  There  is  no  such  verb  in  French  as 
concei'e?'.  The  verb  considere7'  is  pr()l)al)ly  meant.  And  if 
writing,  "  I  wish  to  find  a  man,"  certainly  no  Frenchman  would 
omit  the  article— indefinite  articles  in  French  being  the  prece- 
dent of  all  nouns;  nor  would  a  Frenchman  fail  to  repeat  \\\t  je 
in  the  second  sentence,  for  I  take  it  what  is  meant  to  be  said  is 
this  :  'Je  veiix  im  hovi7ne  a  trom^ei^  qn  'est  hoimete.  Je  von- 
drez-vons  a  considerez-voiis  bien  ce  que  je  a  vons  dis?  " 

From  these  grammatical  errors  in  the  communi- 
cation, the  critic  proclaims  the  whole  an  imposture 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


204  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

Are  we,  then,  left  to  infer  that  it  would  not  have 
been  imposture  had  the  grammar  been  perfect  in  the 
construction  of  the  sentence?  He  tells  us  ''what  is 
meant  to  be  said,"  but  signally  fails  to  tell  us  wJio 
meant  it.  I  care  little  about  the  grammar  or  the 
French  ;  for  both  are  insignificant  when  you  consider 
the  greater  fact,  as  to  how  the  writing  came  on  the 
slate.  The  admission  that  the  writing  is  French  is 
enough  for  my  purpose ;  for  I  do  not  pretend  to  say 
it  was  Marshal  Ney  that  did  it,  nor  do  I  say  he  did 
not.  The  reader-  has  permission  to  form  his  own 
opinions  about  the  matter.  It  might  have  been  some 
other  Ney.  Had  friend  Isaac  Pusey  communicated 
in  French,  I  should  have  pronounced  the  writer  an 
impostor;  but  the  writing  would  have  remained  the 
same  mysterious  fact  to  be  accounted  for.  Ney  or 
no  Ney,  account  for  the  writing.  What  is  Hecuba  to 
you,  or  you  to  Hecuba  t  Do  n't  slash  at  a  phantom, 
when  a  fact  is  before  you. 

I  soon  began  to  apprehend  that  more  marvelous 
things  were  in  reserve  than  had  as  yet  been  exhib- 
ited. The  writing  on  tlie  slate  was  not  to  be  confined 
to  the  table;  but  the  power  accompanied  Mrs.  Hollis 
wherever  she  might  be,  and  could  be  employed  under 
what  seemed  to  be  the  most  unfavorable  circum- 
stances. Thus,  in  our  evening  drives,  I  would  often 
take  with  me  a  slate  and  pencil,  and  as  a  test,  one 
evening,  while  crossing  the  Ohio  River,  on  the  Lud- 
low ferry-boat,  Mrs.  Hollis  laid  the  slate  on  her  lap, 
and  covered  it  with  the  linen  duster  belonging  to  the 
.carriage.  She  then  took  hold  of  it  with  one  hand  on 
the  Tutside  of  the  duster,  and  with  the  other  held  up 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  205 

the  cloth,  so  as  to  form  a  canopy  beneath.  Amid  the 
crowd  and  confusion  and  noise  and  clatter  on  the 
boat,  Skiwaukee  wrote  several  communications,  com- 
menting" upon  his  ''big  canoe  ride."  Below  Bromley, 
on  the  Kentucky  shore  of  the  Ohio  River,  is  a  cluster 
of  locust-trees.  Here,  beneath  the  linen  duster,  for 
an  hour  at  a  time,  the  spirits  have  written  many  com- 
munications, while  Mrs.  HoUis  held  the  slate.  All 
that  was  necessary  was  simply  to  throw  the  duster 
over  a  thistle-bush  or  an  upright  stick,  so  as  to  form 
a  small  air-chamber  beneath  it,  and  place  therein  the 
slate  and  pencil.  If  the  medium  sat  near  the  place^ 
with  her  hand  resting  on  the  outside  of  the  drapery, 
it  was  sufficient;  the  writing  would  take  place. 

Ow^  Sunday  afternoon,  with  Mrs.  Hollis  and 
members  of  my  household,  I  drove  to  Spring  Grove. 
While  the  ladies  were  loitering  over  the  lawns,  and 
reading  monumental  inscriptions,  I  hitched  the  horses, 
and  threw  the  carriage-robe  over  a  small  head-stone 
of  a  grave.  Under  this  I  placed  a  slate  and  pencil, 
and  then  called  Mrs.  Hollis  to  come  and  sit  near. 
She  did  so,  when  almost  instantly  could  be  heard  a 
scratching  on  the  slate.  When  it  was  announced  as 
finished,  the  slate  was  withdrawn,  and  found  to  be 
covered  with  written  characters.  It  was  *' old  Ski" 
agaui  displaying  his  peculiar  chirographic  art.  He 
has  a  terrible  fist  for  writing ;  still  we  could  make 
out  clearly  the  following  edifying  message  : 

*' Much  big  fun!  Write  em  in  big  bone-yard!  Much 
plenty  bones  ;  no  spirums  liere  !  Spirums  no  care  for  bones  ! 
Spirums  no  come  here;  don't  care  for  em  big  fuss-fuss  over 
em  bones  !     So  !" 

20 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


206  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

Here  is  another  opportunity  for  our  carping  critic 
to  display  his  talent  in  detecting  the  faulty  language 
of  the  Indian.  Of  course,  the  intelligent  reader  will 
understand  that  the  object  I  have  in  view  for  intro- 
ducing this  communication,  is  to  show  that  an  intel- 
ligence independent  of  Mrs,  HoUis  did  the  writing. 
Before  leaving  the  place,  upward  of  twenty  short 
communications  were  received  in  this  manner,  from 
what  purported  to  be  six  different  spirits  ;  one  of 
whom,  a  child  named  ''Grace,"  reminded  me  that  I 
had  bought  her  a  little  airing  carriage  when  she  was 
yet  but  a  ''toddlin  wee  thing,"  less  than  twenty 
years  ago. 

On  another  occasion,  while  driving  through  the 
country  with  Mrs.  Mollis,  I  stopped  before  a  gentle- 
man's house,  and  called  him  to  the  side  of  my  carriage. 
While  engaged  in  conversation  with  him  on  business 
matters,  the  slate  lying  on  Mrs.  Hollis's  lap,  covered 
with  the  linen  duster,  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
gentleman  by  the  usual  sounds  of  writing.  Of  course, 
I  had  to  explain,  which  only  drew  from  the  aston- 
ished man  a  smile  of  .incredulity.  He  intimated  that 
I  was  playing  a  prank  upon  him,  until  the  slate  was 
produced,  when,  to  his  utter  amazement,  he  read  an 
affectionate  message,  signed  by  a  daughter's  full 
name,  who  had  been  in  the  spirit-world  over  twenty 
years.  "How  wonderful!"  exclaimed  the  surprised 
parent,  with  his  voice  almost  stifled  with  emotion, 
and  his  eyes  liquid  with  tears. 

One  evening  I  drove  my  carriage  to  the  top  of 
the  large  hill  just  east  of  the  **  Brighton,"  to  give 
Mrs.    Hollis  a  fine   view  of  Mill   Creek  Valley,  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISAL  20/ 

city,  and  a  most  gorgeous  sunset.  While  on  this 
mount,  "old  Ski,"  with  a  pebble,  wrote  on  a  flat  rock, 
beside  which  Mrs.  Holh's  sat,  the  following  message: 
**  Em  go  home!     Mejum  hungry!" 

This  ''new  commandment"  was  so  peremptory, 
and  the  reason  for  obeying  it  so  urgent,  that  we 
stood  not  /*  upon  the  ceremony  of  going,"  but  went 
at  once. 

All  of  which  tends  to  show  that  we  are  never 
alone,  though  our  company  may  not  be  visible  to 
mortal  sense.  It  was  this  thought  that  inspired  Mrs. 
Sigourney  to  write,  ''  I  never  turn  a  beggar  unrelieved 
from  my  door,  for  fear  of  offending  the  beautiful 
angel  that  guided  his  footsteps  to  it." 

Generally,  after  returning  from  a  ride,  in  the  dusk 
of  the  evening,  Mrs.  Hollis  would  sit  for  writing  at 
the  little  table.  The  power  to  write  seemed  to  be 
greater  then  than  at  any  other  time  in  the  day.  I 
thought  it  might  be  owing  to  the  invigorated  condi- 
tion of  the  medium  after  a  ride;  but  have  since  been 
told  that  when  the  solar  rays  have  been  withdrawn 
from  the  earth,  spirit-power  is  increased.  Hence  the 
necessity  of  absolute  darkness  as  a  condition  to 
enable  spirits  to  talk.  Whether  this  is  true  or  not, 
is  not  my  purpose  to  discuss  ;  but  I  only  wish  to 
notice  the  fact,  and,  in  connection  therewith,  ce.rtain 
phenomena  that  I  deem  worth  while  to  record. 

"Ney"  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  table,  and 
wrote  many  short  notes,  to  which  I  attached  no  par- 
ticular importance.  On  one  occasion,  it  occurred  to 
me  to  ask  him  somewhat  of  the  political  outlook  of 
European  governments,  and  tell  mc  what  he  thought 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


208  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

of  affairs  as  he  saw  them  from  his  stand-point.  This 
was  in  1871,  at  which  time  the  following  were  sub- 
stantially his  views  : 

"It  is  written  in  tlie  destiny  of  all  nations,  that  all  men  and 
women  shall  be  equal  before  the  law.  .  .  .  These  principles 
will  ultimately  be  established  in  the  fundamental  laws  of  all 
governments. 

"Spain  will  cease  to  exist  as  a  monarchy.  Her  end  is 
nigh. 

"Italy  will  struggle  and  triumph  over  the  intrigues  of  the 
Pope  and  the  Jesuits. 

"Francis  Joseph  will  receive  another  chastisement.  The 
House  of  the  Hapsburgs  will  cease  to  govern  Austria. 

"It  will  require  ?^w  avalanche  to  crush  tlie  hosts  of  tyran- 
nical priests  that  now  govern  France.  Napoleon  will  never 
relnrn^  nor  yet  will  the  Republic  stand. 

Church  rule  is  swallowing  all  kinds  of  liberal  sentiment  in 
the  United  States.  Tyranny  comes  from  bigotry.  ,  .  ,  h\\ 
ecclesiastical  war  is  imminent.  Already  its  dark  wing  is  spread 
over  your  land.  It  is  so  close  that  you  can  almost  feel  the  hot 
breath  of  its  cannon,  and  hear  the  drum  calling  for  recruits." 

One  morning  it  was  written  by  Ney,  that,  in  the 
twilight  of  the  evening,  spirit-hands  zvoidd  be  pro- 
jected from  ttnder  the  table.  This  was  a  startling 
announcement,  and  excited  much  interest.  Evening 
was  impatiently  awaited.  When  the  designated  time 
arrived,  Mrs.  Hollis  sat,  as  usual,  near  the  table.  The 
different  members  of  my  family  then  selected  posi- 
tions on  the  floor  favorable  for  seeing  the  hands. 
It  was  only  about  twenty  minutes  after  we  began  to 
watch,  when  the  selvage  of  the  cloth  began  to  shake 
at  the  end  of  the  table.  Very  soon  the  points  of  four 
fingers  were  indistinctly  seen,  just  below  the  tassels 
on  the  shawl.  They  quickly  retired,  and,  after  several 
minutes,  returned,  with  more  of  the  hand  exposed  to 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  209 

view.  Indeed,  all  the  fingers  were  fairly  exposed  to 
sight  this  time,  about  fifteen  inches  from  the  floor. 
These  came  again  and  again,  until  a  full  hand  was 
fairly  seen.  This  exhibition  was  repeated  several 
times,  when  two  hands  were  distinctly  visible  at  the 
same  instant.  This  was  marvelous,  and  excited  great 
surprise  among  the  members  of  my  household.  We 
all  saw  the  same  thing  at  the  same  time,  and  suffi- 
ciently long  to  be  assured  of  what  we  saw. 

I  now  folded  a  new  ten-dollar  bill,  lengthways, 
and  held  it  just  beneath  the  edge  of  the  cloth,  until 
the  hands  appeared  and  seized  it.  It  was  carried  up 
to  the  slate  held  by  Mrs.  Hollis,  where  it  was  rumpled 
crisply,  and  creaked  quite  loud  in  the  handling.  It 
was  then  dropped  to  the  floor.  I  next  held  my  porte- 
monnaie  near  the  ^(\g^  of  the  cloth,  when  it  was  in- 
stantly seized  and  carried  to  the  slate.  My  knife  was 
also  taken  up;  and  very  soon  followed  my  comb  and 
bunch  of  keys.  These  were  rattled  around  on  the  slate 
for  several  minutes,  and  were  then  all  thrown  into 
the  room,  one  by  one,  upon  the  floor,  excepting  the 
pocket-book.  This  was  retained,  and  opened.  The 
roll  of  bank-bills  was  taken  from  it,  and,  with  as 
much  dexterity  and  skill  as  a  bank-teller  could  dis- 
play, the  notes  were  sent  flying  over  the  floor  in 
every  direction  from  under  the  edge  of  the  table- 
cover.  I  gathered  them  up,  and,  holding  them  in 
my  hand,  requested  the  spirits  to  take  the  notes 
again  and  replace  them  in  the  porte-7nonnaie.  This 
they  quickly  did,  throwing  it  afterward  to  the  floor, 
with  the  money  all  nicely  folded  and  put  in  the  proper 
pocket,   not   forgetting   to   fasten  it  with    the   clasp. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


2IO  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

There  was  no  money  missing;  and,  '' by  that  same 
token,"  in  these  degenerate  times,  I  call  them  honest 
spirits. 

After  these  experiments  had  been  concluded,  the 
writing  was  again  resumed,  and  the  spirits  seemed 
to  be  in  high  glee  over  their  success.  I  confess,  my 
curiosity  was  aroused,  and  I  determined  to  see  more 
of  this  thing.  I  accordingly  placed  myself  in  such  a 
position  on  the  floor  that  I  could  command  a  view  of 
the  position  of  the  slate,  as  it  was  held  by  Mrs.  Hollis 
under  the  table.  By  slightly  elevating  the  cover,  I 
was  enabled  to  do  this.  I  waited  until  the  writing 
commenced,  and,  as  soon  as  it  was  fairly  under  way, 
I  took  a  fair  view  of  the  situation.  It  was  an  inhib- 
ited look,  a  flank  movement  on  the  domain  of  the 
spirits,  for  which  I  was  subsequently  reproved.  My 
object,  however,  was  accomplishicd.  /  sazv  Mrs. 
Hollis' s  hand  holding  the  slate,  and  a  well-formed 
hand  moving  over  the  top  of  it,  as  if  writing.  There 
zvere  tzvo  otJiers,  not  so  distinctly  formed,  tuider  the 
slate,  but  accurate  in  all  the  anatomical  outlines  of  the 
human  hand.  The  hands  zvere  not  alike  in  size  or  shape. 
The  one  zvJiich  I  thought  to  be  employed  in  writing 
zvas  noticeably  a  large,  masculine  Jiand,  zvith  thick, 
heavy  finger's.  The  tzvo  under  the  slate  were  slender^ 
more  delicately  organized,  and  of  different  size.  All 
these  hands  zvere  seen  to  terminate  at  the  zvrist-joint, 
where  they  seemed  to  be  lost  in  a  hazy,  cloudy  aura. 

The  desire  to  look  had  been  gratified,  but  now 
came  the  perplexing  problem  to  find  out  to  whom 
these  hards  belonged.  They  were  not  attached  to 
Mrs.  Hoi' is  by  any  visible  connection,  and,  so  far  as 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  2  1 1 

I  could  judge,  floated  about  and  acted  without  her 
volition  or  control. 

I  have  spoken  of  this  strange  or  singular  experi- 
ence to  several  sober-minded  people,  who  nevei',  until 
then,  exhibited  any  doubts  about  the  integrity  of  any 
statement  they  have  known  me  to  make.  Neither  did 
they  doubt  my  integrity  in  this  ;  but,  to  get  out  of  a 
difficulty  in  an  easy  way,  they  allege  that  I  was 
deceived;  the  hands  were  an  illusion.  I  was  quite 
willing  to  accept  tins  statement  in  good  part;  but 
what  of  the  hands  that  took  my  pocket-book,  knife, 
etc.,  as  already  described }  Four  persons  besides 
myself  attest  to  tin's  fact.  All  witnessed  the  same 
thing.  Admitting  their  power  in  the  one  instance, 
why  doubt  them  \\\  the  other.!*  I  am  not  so  old 
that  any  of  my  faculties  are  impaired,  nor  yet  so 
young  that  I  would  foim  a  judgment  on  any  other 
than  upon  the  most  accredited  testimony.  I  may  be 
fretted  by  doubts,  but  I  will  not  allow  my  judgment 
to  be  swayed  by  passion.  I  am  only  bearing  testi- 
mony to  a  fact  which  I  do  know. 

There  were  three  hands  visible  under  the  table 
in  the  positions  I  have  described,  besides  the  hand 
belonging  to  Mi"s.  Mollis,  with  which  she  held  the 
slate.  These  were  all  in  view  at  the  same  time. 
They  differed  in  size  and  shape.  I  had  sufficient 
time  to  make  that  observation,  although  they  faded 
from  my  view  while  I  was  gazing  at  them.  Had 
they  been  hands  composed  of  flesh  and  blood, 
they,  could  not  hd^vQ  faded  in  this  manner  from  my 
sight.  The  testimony  of  my  eyes  has  never  been 
brought    in    question.     The    same   sense   that   recog- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


2 1 2  STAR TLING  FACTS  IN 

nized  the  natural  hand  of  Mrs.  Hollis  testified  to  the 
presence  of  the  three  epliemeral  hands.  If  it  were 
capable  of  attesting  the  truth  in  the  one  instance, 
why  not  also  in  the  other  ?  Say,  if  you  please,  that 
I  was  optically  deluded  ;  but,  then,  I  must  insist  that 
you  are  not  a  competent  judge. 

**  What  differs  more,  you  say,  than  crown  and  cowl? 
I  '11  tell  you,  friend — a  wise  man  and  a  fool !" 

But  a  valiant  doubter  said  to  me:  ''What  of  all 
this  .?  Suppose  I  admit  you  have  seen  what  you  say 
you  have — three  hands  under  the  table  belonging  to 
no  visible  arms — what  does  it  amount  to  ?  Are  you 
any  wiser  or  better  for  it  ?" 

These  are  impertinent  questions.  They  do  not 
relate  to  the  matter  in  issue.  My  object  is  simply  to 
testify  to  the  truth.  A  fact  is  an  organized  truth, 
and  as  indestructible  as  time.  Every  fact  we  dis- 
cover is- a  treasure  to  the  world.  Facts  are  the  basis 
of  all  philosophy,  and  the  great  teachers  of  the  human 
race. 

It  may  be  urged  that  I  have  been  quite  particular 
in  speaking  of  these  bands.  That  is  true.  I  aimed 
to  be  critically  exact.  When  we  discover  a  fact,  we 
must  be  right  sure  it  is  a  ''fact  T 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  213 


CHAPTER  XL 

SPIRITS  WRITING  ON  PAPER— FRENCH  AND  SPANISH 
WRITING— LETTERS  FROM  JIM  NOLAN  AND  NEY— 
NAPOLEON'S  REINCARNATION  PREDICTED  — SIX 
LETTERS  FROM  JOSEPHINE  — A  SLANDERER  UN- 
MASKED  BY  SKIWAUKEE. 

MANY  communications  were  written  upon  the 
slate  which  were  not  at  all  intelligible,  because 
of  being  written  in  languages  I  did  not  understand. 
Those  that  were  written  in  English,  I,  of  course,  had 
a  sincere  desire  to  retain,  because  of  the  general 
interest  they  seemed  to  possess.  Many  of  these  I 
transcribed,  and  to  some  of  them  I  have  referred  in 
the  preceding  pages.  To  most  of  them,  however,  I 
simply  gave  a  casual  reading,  and  then  rubbed  them 
off.  I  did  this,  however,  always  with  some  qualms. 
It  occurred  to  me  at  last  that  there  was  no  reason 
why  spirits  should  not  write  as  readily  on  paper  as 
on  a  slate.  If  I  could  succeed  in  retaining  their  own 
writing,  a  double  interest  would  be  attached  to  what 
they  might  say.  Copying  a  communication,  and  read- 
ing it  in  your  own  familiar  writing,  destroys  its  fresh- 
ness, its  novelty;  the  fragrance  of  originality  is  gone. 
Then,  too,  how  much  more  the  curious  would  be  inter- 
ested in  reading  a  letter  that  had  never  been  written 
by  mortal  hands!      The  very   thought  of  holding  a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


214  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

letter  in  your  hand  that  had  been  traced  by  spirit- 
fingers,  looked  upon  by  spirit-eyes,  and  conceived 
by  a  spirit-brain,  was  more  than  interesting;  it  was 
fascinating. 

I  fastened  a  sheet  of  paper  on  the  slate,  and 
placed  upon  it  a  small  lead-pencil.  In  a  few  minutes 
after  Mrs.  HoUis  put  it  under  the  table,  the  w^rithig 
began.  The  experiment  was  a  success,  though  I  was 
slightly  ^*  obfuscated"  in  my  faculties  by  the  first 
communication,  of  which  the  following  is  2.  fac  simile: 

J  y  cu  Lu  cu  L  o  ir  n  9  clp^v  P  C  Lcls 

So  much  was  assured.  For  the  better  conserva- 
tion of  this  idea,  I  had  constructed  from  a  sheet 
of  heavy  tin,  a  rack  or  frame,  which  would  retain, 
in  a  stationary  position,  a  number  of  sheets  of  paper. 
This  frame  was  made  simply  by  turning  a  half-inch 
edge  on  one  end  and  two  sides  of  the  tin-plate,  which 
formed  a  groove  or  rabbit.  In  these  grooves  I  fitted 
the  paper,  sometimes  as  many  as  twenty  half-sheets 
of  large  commercial  note. 

With  these  additional  facilities  for  doing  business, 
the  spirits  worked  with  a  will.  They  seemed  pleased 
with  their  success  in  writing  literal  letters  to  their 
friends  in  the  form.  In  this  manner  they  wrote  a 
number  of  quite  lengthy  ones  to  their  friends  living 
in  different  places,  with  the  request  that  I  would  de- 
liver them  in  person  or  send  them  by  mail.  I  did  this 
for  some  time,  but  soon  discovered  it  was  a  thankless 
task  I  had  undertaken   to  perform,  and   accordingly 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  2  1 5 

shut  down  on  the  "dead-head"  bushiess.  There  is 
nothing  like  making  people  pay  for  what  they  get. 
It  quickens  their  appreciation  marvelously. 

It  was  admitted  that  many  of  these  letters  bore  a 
close  chirographic  resemblance  to  those  written  by 
the  putative  authors  while  in  the  form.  Others,  how- 
ever, did  not  exhibit  the  slightest  trace  of  similarity. 
This  was  especially  true  of  those  who  communicated 
for  the  first  time.  They  seemed  not  to  possess  the 
knack  of  writing  well  at  the  beginning;  but,  by  prac- 
tice, gradually  improved,  until  they  not  only  attained 
their  former  skill,  but  even  surpassed  in  style  the  pen- 
manship of  their  earth-life.  When  investigating  this 
subject  through  Mr.  Mansfield,  I  noticed  the  great 
variety  of  styles  in  his  writing,  which  satisfied  my 
mind  that  different  spirits  controlled  it  at  different 
times.  Still,  a  large  number  of  his  communications 
were  given  in  one  strongly-marked  and  individualized 
form  of  penmanship,  I  spoke  to  Mr.  Mansfield  one 
day  about  this,  when  I  was  quickly  informed  by  his 
control  (General  Seth  Cushman,  an  uncle,  I  believe, 
to  Charlotte,  the  distinguished  tragedienne,)  that  but 
few  spirits  had  the  ability  to  write;  and,  in  all  cases 
when  they  could  not,  he  acted  as  their  amanuensis. 
I  have  reason  to  believe  this  statement  entirely  accu- 
rate, as  it  is  confirmed  by  an  example  which  came 
within  the  range  of  my  personal  knowledge.  I  have 
in  the  spirit-world  an  old  *'Auntie,"  who  received  her 
education  at  a  time  when  schools  were  not  so  com- 
mon as  now.  Being  informed  that  the  line  of  com- 
munication was  open,  she  took  a  strong  notion  to 
drop  me  a  letter  from  the  spirit-land.     As  her  head 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


2  l6  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

and  hand  were  not  in  good  reciprocal  relations  with 
each  other,  her  head  dictated  the  letter,  to  which  her 
hand  simply  subscribed  her  X  mark.  Her  aman- 
uensis expostulated,  but  she  said,  in  good  Jack 
Bunsby  style:  ''Never  you  mind;  gis  you  write  my 
name.  'Apoleon  will  know  it  werry  well/'  And  I 
did,  bless  her  good  heart ! 

Independent  of  the  interest  attached  to  these  let- 
ters, as  emanating  from  those  we  have  been  taught 
to  esteem  as  dead,  many  of  them  are  entitled  to 
consideration  for  the  intrinsic  merit  they  display- 
in  thought  and  expression.  It  is  my  purpose  to 
transcribe  a  few  of  these  for  the  edification  of  the 
reader.  I  will  select  those  only  which  possess  a 
public  interest. 

One  of  the  first  letters  I  received  on  the  paper 
slate  purported  to  be  written  by  Mai^shal  Ney.  It  evi- 
dently was  meant  as  a  reply  to  a  remark  made  by  a 
gentleman,  who  said  he  could  take  no  stock  in  spirit- 
ualism, unless  it  could  be  shown  that  it  had  done 
some  good  for  the  world.  It  was  the  next  day,  while 
I  was  sitting  with  Mrs.  Hollis,  that  the  following 
communication  was  received  : 

"My  Friend,— Time  writes  its  mark  on  all  tilings.  We 
change  by  a  wise  and  beautiful  ordination.  Earth  would  cloy 
us  were  it  elern;il.  The  Spring-time  of  our  existence  is  a  glad- 
some time,  but  wlu)  woukt  not  enjoy  the  Summer  glory  of  life? 
]t  has  been  asked,  'What  good  can  spiritualism  do?'  You 
need  no  information  on  this  subject;  but  for  those  nho  do,  I 
answer,  It  lakes  away  the  dark  veil  thnt  has  been  so  k)ng  over 
your  earth.  To  know  yourselves  immortal  is  more  than  all  else. 
Jt  gives  the  assurance  that  your  friends  slill  live. 

"Why  shouKl  people  reject  a  doctrine  that  tells  you  your 
friends  still  take  an  interest  in  you,  that  they  love  with  the  same 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  2\J 

love  t  It  takes  away  all  dread  of  death.  It  has  carried  all  the 
thorns  and  thistles  out  of  the  dark  valley  your  preachers  so 
often  tell  you  of.  It  has  brought  all  30ur  friends  near  you  ;  in 
fact,  it  has  brought  all  good,  and  no  evil.  Tlie  lessons  it  has 
taught  you,  have  been  of  the  purest  moral  character.  To  me 
it  seems  strange  that  even  a  pagan  should  reject  it. 
"I  am,  your  friend, 

If  any  doubt  has  existed  heretofore  about  the 
identity  of  the  particular  *' Ney  "  v^ho  u^rites  so  fre- 
quently at  the  table,  and  speaks  in  the'  dark  circle, 
the  foregoing-  signature,  which  is  a  fac  simile  of  the 
one  attached  to  the  letter,  v\/ill  settle  the  question 
effectually  as  to  whom  is  meant,  at  least.  The  crit- 
icism of  Ney's  French  may  be  all  right,  but  this 
English  composition  will  represent  a  more  exact 
knowledge. of  the  rules  of  grammar. 

With  some  writing  of  a  personal  character  inter- 
vening, the  following  verses  were  received,  which 
are  said  to  be  written  in  the  old  Castilian  language. 
As  I  have  no  knowledge  of  Spanish,  I  will  furnish 
the  original  writing  as  copy  to  the  printer,  from 
which  he  will  *'set"  it  in  type.  If  there  are  any 
inaccuracies  in  the  composition,  the  printer  must  be 
held  responsible  for  them,  unless  he  has  followed 
copy.  I  can  not  even  attempt  to  punctuate  this 
composition ;  and,  without  a  knowledge  of  the  lan- 
guage, it  is  difficult  to  know  whether  the  letters 
forming  words  are  accurately  given  or  not,  as  both 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


2  1 8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

consonants  and  vowels  are  almost  undistingiiishable. 
Thus,  /,  e,  Oy  ay  ;/,  2iy  look  as  much  alike  as  the  sheep 
in  Elisio's  ''  flock." 

"JuEVES,  Dicie7nbre, 

"Tras  su  maiiada  EHsio  lamentando 
Mil  reces  este  verso  repetia 
Ay  quieii  se  viera  cual  se  vio  algun  dia 
Vinieyo  tan  seiior  de  mi  foituna 
Tan  libre  de  dolor  tan  prosperado 
Que  no  tenii  jamas  mudanza  alguna 
De  aqiiel  primero  y  venturoso  estado 
Yo  todo  mi  ventiua  se  ha  Irocado 
No  soy  ni  yo  sere  quien  ser  solia 
Ay  quien  se  viera  coral  se  vio  algun  dia 
Ragu  cuenta  sobre  mi 

"MARTINEZ  DE  IRUJO." 

Of  course,  I  was  very  curious  to  know  what  all 
this  was  about,  and,  after  a  great  deal  of  painstaking, 
I  succeeded  in  finding,  among  my  most  valued 
friends,  one  who  could  give  me  a  literal  transla- 
tion of  the  stanza.     Here  it  is: 

"Thursday,  December. 
"After  his  flock  Elisio  lamented, 
Thousand  times  this  verse  he  repeated:— 
Will  one  see  again  what  he  has  once  been  ? 
I  have  seen  myself  master  of  my  fortune, 
Free  from  grief  and  so  prosperous 
That  I  never  feared  any  change 
From  that  first  and  happy  state. 
But  now  all  my  fate  is  changed  ; 

I  am  not  now,     or  never  will  be,  what  I  have  once  been. 
Alas  !  who  will  see  himself  what  he  has  once  been? 
Count  upon  me. 

"MARTINEZ  DE  IRUJO." 

'  Now,  what  does   it  amount  to  .'*     Well,   not   very 

much  ;  especially  to  those  who  take  no  interest  in 

the  misfortunes  of  Elisio.      It   seems  to  have  been 

written  by  one  who,  in  his  life-time,  stood  upon  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  2 1 9 

dizzy  height  of  wealth,  surrounded  by  all  the  lux- 
uries that  a  capricious  taste  could  crave ;  and,  by  some 
means  or  other,  the  wheel  of  fortune  turned  (and  the 
old,  creaky  thing  is  always  turning),,  when  Elisio 
went  under.  He  might  have  commenced  speculat- 
ing on  'change,  or  become  a  debauchee  or  stock- 
gambler,  or  a  dealer  in  gilt-edged  paper,  or  engaged 
in  the  oil  business, — who  knows  ?  It  is  no  matter 
what.  He  failed,  and,  like  a  paltroon  (if  he  was  not 
an  old  sinner),  he  whines  and  desponds  as  if  the  pos- 
session of  wealth  did  not,  ninety  times  in  a  hundred, 
make  knaves,  dolts,  or  impotents  of  its  cowardly 
slaves.  In  this  exhibit  of  himself,  it  is  quite  appar- 
ent that  all  he  lacks  is  the  mean  capacity  of  a  city 
thief  or  boss  contractor,  to  enable  him  to  "see  him- 
self as  he  once  had  been."  And  what  had  he  been 
but  a  contemptible,  shallow-pated,  daisy-decked  dafifo- 
down-dilly  of  a  whining,  wealthy  blatherskite?  To  be 
sure,  he  might  have  been  an  opulent  pew-holder,  whose 
gilded  presence  gave  inspiration  to  the  priest,  while, 
in  slumber,  he  dreamed  his  pleasant  time  away, — 

*'  Free  from  grief,  and  so  prosperous 
That"  he  never  feared  any  change 
From  that  first  and  happy  state." 

Death  seems  to  have  shaken  him  up,  and  he  fancies 

he  has  fallen,  whereas  he  has  only  found  his  level. 

He  has,  to  be  sure,  lost  his  paint,  as  a  peacock  may 

his  tail.     That  only  puts  an  end  to  his  strutting;  for, 

"  Pigmies  are  pigmies  still,  though  perched  on  Alps, 
And  pyramids  are  pyramids  in  vales." 

Bat  my  object  in  calling  attention  to  this  writing  is 
simply  to  show  that  neither  Mrs.  Hollis  nor  myself 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


220  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

should  be  held  responsible  for  its  appearing  on  the 
paper.  The  liypercritic,  I  know,  will  ascribe  its  evolve- 
ment  to  the  circuitous  action  of  the  spinozial  gland, 
influencing  the  unconscious  cerebrtim  of  his  own  pig- 
head;  but  such  opinions  never  amount  to  very  much, 
only  with  unconscious  idiots. 

On  a  subsequent  occasion  the  following  line  was 
given,  without  any  apparent  motive,  unless  it  was 
to  demonstrate  that  they  had  selected  the  most  inca- 
pable man  upon  whom  to  play  their  pranks. 

In  this  manner  spirits  would  communicate  in 
Greek,  Hebrew,  Italian,  Swede,  Celt,  and  Arabic, 
until  a  perfect  maze  of  roots  and  derivations  filled 
the  paper.  Of  course,  I  discouraged  all  this  con- 
temptible nonsense,  and  threatened  a  muss  if  the 
tomfoolery  was  not  promptly  discontinued.  I  had 
no  idea  of  squandering  time  on  such  useless  scribble. 

Very  soon  my  opjDosition  to  the  language  tests—- 
for  that  is  what  they  were  intended  for — began  to 
show  its  fruits.  A  number  of  good,  readable  com- 
munications were  given  in  fair  English  upon  inter- 
esting subjects.  The  following  was  addressed  to 
Mrs.  Hollis: 

''Dear  Medium,— The  Spring-time  of  spiritualism  has  just 
dawned  upon  the  world.  Its  primroses  and  daises  are  just 
peeping   through   the   cold   soil  of  a  fast-vanishing   orthodox 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  221 

Winter.  Tlie  fragrant  flowers  of  Summer,  in  all  their  beaut}-, 
will  soon  be  here  to  complete  the  transformation.  Stand  firm, 
medium  ;  we  will  pioLect  3'ou  wilh  our  might.  You  aie  sur- 
rounded by  a  host  of  mighty  spirits.  We  have  selected  you 
for  a  grand  purpose — a  mission  that  a  queen  wouUl  be  proud 
to  fill.  You  shall  be  honored  above  woman.  Stand  firm,  and 
believe  in  your  friend,  James  Nolan." 

If  Jim  Nolan  is  insincere  in  this  note,  it  is  the 
first  time  I  have  discovered  him  to  be  so.  And  yet 
the  announcement  of  *' a  mission  that  a  queen  would 
be  proud  to  fill,"  borders  somewhat  on  the  extrava- 
gant, I  admit.  But  see  what  this  woman  has  achieved 
already,  and  then  say,  if  you  can,  where  her  ''mis- 
sion "  will  end. 

It  has  been  announced  that  Josephine  Bonaparte 
belonged  to  my  band  of  spirits.  For  this  informa- 
tion I  am  primarily  indebted  to  Jim  Nolan.  Since 
his  announcement  of  the  fact,  I  have  received  many 
letters  which  purport  to  be  written  by  her.  Some 
of  these  were  written  at  my  suggestion  for  public 
use  ;  others  were  given  voluntarily.  I  did  not  affix 
dates  to  these  letters  ;  so  I  will  not  present  them 
in  chronological  order.  This,  however,  is  of  no 
consequence,  as  there  is  no  connection  in  the  sep- 
arate subjects  discussed.  Notwithstanding,  there 
is  some  literary  excellence  displayed  in  their  com- 
positions— it  is  for  no  such  purpose  I  present  them. 
It  is  simply  to  fm-nish  cumulative  proof  of  spirit 
intercourse  being  established  between  the  two 
worlds,  with  the  added  interest  of  learning  what  the 
views  of  such  a  woman  as  Josephine  Bonaparte  are 
since  her  translation  to  the  Summer-land. 

I  will  preface  these  English  letters  by  presenting 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


222  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

a  fac  simile  autograph  note,  which  will  be  read  with 
intense  interest,  by  such  of  her  countrymen^  at  least, 
who  are  hoping  and  believing  in  the  second  advent, 
or  reincarnation,  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte : 


<tt-C 


The  following  translation  of  this  remarkable  note 
has  been  made  by  one  quite  well  qualified  for  the 
service : 

(TRANSLATION.) 

*'The  French  nation  will  receive  a  person  in  1902,  wlio 
will  deliver  tlie  country  from  obscenity  and  bigotry.  His  name 
will  be  Napoleon  Bo7taparte.     Then  the  glory  of  France  will 

return  witii  double  brilliancy. 

*' Josephine  Bonaparte." 

It  is  of  no  public  consequence  what  I  believe 
about  this  prediction.  It  is  unquestionably  an  im- 
portant one  to  the  French  nation,  if  it  turns  out  to 
be  true.  That's  the  point  of  interest  to  a  French- 
man. The  interest  I  attach  to  it  consists  simply 
in  the  phenomenal  fact  which  it  presents. 

There  was  one  extraordinary  circumstance  con- 
nected with  the  reception  of  this  note,  which  struck 
me  at  the  time  with  amazement.  While  Mrs.  Hollis 
was  holding  the  paper  slate  for  the  communication, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  223 

there  was  ?i  fett  de  joie  of  spirit-raps  in  several  parts 
of  the  chamber.  This  was  extraordinar)^ ;  and  while  I 
was  speculating  as  to  the  object  of  this  grand  display 
of  power,  Mrs.  Hollis  called  my  attention  to  the 
action  of  a  chair,  which  sat  in  a  remote  part  of  the 
room.  This  was  seen  to  balance  itself  on  its  two 
hind-legs,  rocking  to  and  fro  for  as  much  as  a  min- 
ute, describing  with  the  back  of  the  chair  one-fourth 
of  an  aerial  circle.  It  then  began  to  move  toward 
the  table  at  which  we  sat,  one  leg  pushed  forward 
at  a  time,  until  half  the  distance  had  been  overcome. 
It  then  put  all  legs  to  the  floor,  and  slid  over  the 
carpet  to  the  table,  where  it  again  resumed  the  bal- 
anced, oscillating  condition  on  the  two  hibd-legs, 
which  it  maintained  for  as  much  as  two  minutes, 
when  it  fell  backward  heavily.  As  it  did  this,  the 
raps  were  loud,  and  so  rapid  that  you  can  de- 
scribe them  only  by  saying  they  came  in  shoivers. 
At  the  same  instant  the  self-propelled  chair  made 
its  demonstration,  the  prophetic  note  of  Josephine 
was  being  written  under  the  table.  It  was  subse- 
quently stated  by  Ney  that  the  demonstration  was 
made  by  a  band  of  French  spirits,  to  express  their 
gratification  at  the  success  of  announcing  to  France' 
and  the  world  the  reincarnation  of  their  beloved  chief. 

The  reader  may  take  this  statement  for  what  it 
is  worth.     I  only  record  the  fact. 

There  was  another  curious  fact  in  connection 
with  this  morning  seance^  which  I  offer  no  apology 
for  recording.  It  was  this  :  When  Mrs.  Hollis  arose 
from  the  table  to  repair  to  the  breakfast-room,  down- 
stairs, the  chair  that  had  excited  so  much  attention 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


224  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

volunteered  a  peripatetic  movement  to  accompany 
her.  It  started  fiom  the  center  of  the  room,  and 
sUd  by  jerks  to  the  door  communicatipig  with  the 
stair-hall.  Here  the  toes  of  its  legs  became  en- 
tangled with  the  carpet-strip,  and  brought  it  to  a 
stop.  In  a  few  seconds  it  was  lifted  by  an-  unseen 
power  over  the  strip  into  the  hall,  where  it  fell  to  the 
floor,  when  Mrs.  Hollis  fled  in  consternation  down- 
stairs at  this  unusual  display. 

In  presenting  the  following  letters,  as  already 
stated,  I  have  no  other  motive  than  to  increase  the 
presumption  in  favor  of  their  spirit-authenticity. 
Still,  it  would  be  sheer  affectation  to  say  they  were 
devoid  of  interest  to  the  intelligent  reader : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  I.) 

"  My  Dear  Friend, — The  memory  of  the  past  comes  over 
me  lliis  morning,  and  ahiiost  overwhelms  me  with  its  power. 
My  Imsband's  voice  I  hear  eclioing  througli  the  nation,  and  the 
eartli  trembles  beneatli  the  heavy  roll  of  artillery  and  the  tread 
of  his  soldiers.  I  see  his  manly  form,  and  feel  all  the  pride  and 
joy  of  being  the  wife  of  Napoleon.  Like  some  distant  strain  of 
music  are  the  shoutings  of  my  people — Vive  la  France  ! 

**  But  now,  alas!  comes  that  anguish  of  the  heart,  when  we 
see  the  sacrifices  that  must  be  made  for  the  good  of  the  land. 
My  beloved  must  be  torn  away,  and  the  soil  receive  the  baptism 
of  the  best  blood  of  the  people.  All  this  passes  before  me.  A 
few  more  dark,  weary  days,  when  the  angel  of  death  gave  me  a 
release,  and  kindly  took  me  home  to  the  quiet  Summer-land. 
Here,  with  my  beloved,  my  worshiped  one,  I  rested  awhile.  .  .  . 

^'Najioleon  startled  me  by  saying:  ^My  darlings  I  can  not 
rest  I    The  people  of  France  ai^e  calling  me  I    Co7ne,  go  with  me  P 

^'At  first  I  felt  that  I  wanted  to  stay  in  the  spirit-land,  but 
now  all  the  fires  of  ami)ition  that  fills  my  dear  Napoleon's  soul, 
sweeps  over  mine.  I  join  him  in  this  great  work,  and  only 
know  the  feeling, — Onward,  Onward !  No  rest  till  France  is 
Free  !  Josephine." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  22$ 

The  following  letter  presents  a  picture  of  "  home- 
life"  in  the  spirit-land,  which  requires  but  little  exer- 
cise of  the  imagination  to  realize.  The  presence 
of  birds,  fruit,  flowers,  paintings,  and  books,  sur- 
rounds the  place  with  an  atmosphere  of  home  com- 
forts, quite  pleasant  to  contemplate.  Napoleon's 
reincarnation  and  mission  is  distinctly  pronounced. 
'*  But  is  it  only  a  dream  T 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  IT.) 

"  My  Dear  Friend,— This  morning,  when  I  left  my  spirit- 
liome,  il  was  filled  wilh  music  and  beautiful  flowers.  O,  what 
a  contrast  does  earth  present!  I  often  wish  I  could  take  the 
material  veil  from  your  eyes,  and  let  you  look  into  my  home 
as  it  is.  And  now  remember,  to  you  it  shall  be  a  resting-place 
when  you  come  to  the  spirit-world.  We  have  in  the  spirit-land 
all  you  have  in  life:  birds,  fruit,  flowers,  paintings,  books,  and 
whatever  else  that  can  charm  the  taste  or  improve  the  under- 
standing.    Here  all  is  beautiful,  all  is  harmony  and  peace. 

"When  I  turn  to  earth,  alas!  what  wretchedness  do  I  see! 
And  yet,  with  it  all,  I  feel  happy  and  glad  this  morning.  Is 
it  because  you  have  decided  to  visit  France  ?* 

"I  was  there  last  week,  and  O  how  my  heart  aches  over  the 
unhappy  condition  of  my  people;  and  how  much  they  need  my 
husband's  presence  !  Do  you  notice  how  restless  the  Govern- 
ment is  at  present,  and  how  the  people  suffer.^  O,  we  know 
their  needs,  and  to  my  husband's  strong  arm  are  the  people  of 
France  looking  for  deliverance. 

"When  you  visit  my  country,  you  will  find  there  is  a  de- 
liverer expected;  and  now  I  say  to  you,  my  husband  will  fulfill 
that  mission.  Of  his  reincarnation  I  dream  both  day  and  night. 
Its  success  is  the  foundation-rock  of  all  my  hereafter.  In  his 
hands  will  be  placed  the  welfare  of  his  people — the  glory  of 
France  and  the  heart  of  ,  Josephine." 

*I  contemplate  making  a  tour  through  Europe  next  season,  and 
said  to  Josephine  I  would  certainly  visit  the  historic  localities  of  France 
with  more  than  common  interest,  especially  those  with  which  herself 
and  Napoleon  were  identified. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


226  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

After  I  had  decided  to  write  this  book,  and  find- 
ing my  purpose  met  with  the  approbation  of  the 
communicating  spirits,  I  requested  Josephine  to  write 
a  letter  or   two   specially   for  its   pages. 

I  desired  this,  as  the  public,  I  thought,  would 
be  interested  in  any  thing  she  might  communicate 
respecting  the  after-life,  and  the  conditions  of  the 
spirit-world.  To  this  request  she  wrote  the  following 
reply : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS.  No.  Ill) 

''My  Dear  Friend, — You  ask  me  to  write  something  for 
tlie  book.  I  will  do  the  best  I  can.  I  never  wrote  much  when 
on  earth,  nor  have  1  accomplished  myself  in  this  particular 
since  my  spirit-life  began.  Indeed,  I  have  written  more  to  you 
than  in  all  my  other  correspondence  put  together ;  so  you  can 
judge  of  the  extent  of  my  writing.  I  will  furnish  for  your  book 
a  few  ideas.  You  must  arrange  and  dress  them  with  presentable 
language  for  the  public  eye.* 

"You  desire  me  not  to  express  my  gratitude  for  the  kind- 
ness you  have  bestowed  upon  me.  You  might  as  well  say  to 
the  ocean,  'Hush  thy  sounds!'  What  is  the  music  of  the 
soul,  if  it  be  not  gratitude  1  The  grand  old  ocean  feels  it,  and 
rushes  with  its  gladsome  weaves  upon  the  shore.  That  is  its 
life,  its  gratitude,  its  joy.  Next  will  come  the  wind,  singing 
through  your  trees,  and  rushing  wildly,  with  delight,  over  your 
house-tops.  O,  that  is  its  gratitude  to  the  power  that  gives  it 
motion  !  The  flowers  you  cultivate  come  smiling  with  their 
beautiful  tints,  and  fragrant  with  their  joy,  to  tell  you  the  same 
story  of  their  thanks.  They  all  pay  you  for  the  work  you 
do  for  them.     And  now  word-writing  and   acts   are  the  only 

*It  is  proper  to  say  that  Josephine's  modesty,  in  this  particular, 
compels  me  to  state  that  I  have  taken  no  such  lil^erties  with  her  writ- 
ings as  she  here  permits.  I  have  omitted  sucli  parts  of  her  letters  as 
were  too  personal  for  general  interest,  and  have  edited  her  punctu- 
ation ;  but  in  no  instance  have  I  substituted  my  own  ideas  for  hers, 
and  rarely  has  it  been  necessary  to  borrow  any  new  dress  of  language 
to  make  them  presentable  to  the  "  public  eye. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  22/ 

expressions  I  can  make  of  my  thanks,  and,  as  I  am  a  French 
woman,  I  must  give  vent  to  my  soul,  so  full  of  gratitude.  I 
will  hold  my  peace,  but  I  must  tell  you  sometimes  how  grateful 
I  am.     .     .     . 

"It  has  often  been  asked  by  those  who  entertain  but  imper- 
fect ideas  of  the  spirit-life,  'You  tell  us  your  homes  are  so  beau- 
tiful, why  do  you  leave  them  to  come  to  this  valley  of  shadows  ?' 
To  such  my  reply  is,  I  could  not  rest  in  ease  and  splendor 
when  so  many  hearts  are  calling  me  to  earth.  /  am  magnet- 
ically bound  to  earthy  and  can  not  free  myself  tintil  sympathy 
deserts  my  heart,  and  eveiy  htunan  tie  is  severed, 

.  ''The  souls  of  all  men  and  women  are  crying  for  knowledge. 
Your  people  are  starving  for  truth,  such  as  tlie  spirit-world  alone 
can  supply. 

*'  Do  you  think  I  could  idly  fold  my  arms,  as  the  oars  cross 
over  a  boat,  and  let  the  waves  of  chance  drift  me  to  and  fro  1  I 
have  a  mission  more  noble  than  that.  I  have  come  from  my 
beautiful  home  to  repeat  the  story,  that  I  live  beyond  the  earth — 
that  I  am  the  same  Josephine  Bonaparte,  the  same  individual, 
that  I  was  on  earth ;  to  tell  you  that  beyond  the  tomb  there 
are  many  bright  faces  and  lovely  forms  to  meet  you  with  out- 
stretched hands  when  you  come  to  immortal  life  ;  to  tell  you 
that  death  is  a  beautiful  angel,  which  disrobes  you  of  your  soiled 
garments,  and  clothes  you  in  the  beautiful  dress  of  the  spirit, 
as  the  Spring  takes  off  the  iron  mask  of  Winter,  and  spangles 
the  earth  with  sunshine  and  bright  flowers. 

''Remember,  my  friend,  in  all  your  earthly  trials  there  is 
for  you  a  crown  of  sunbeams  across  the  waves  of  time.  When 
you  come  over,  you  will  not  be  a  willing  drone  in  the  hive  of 
progression.  Soon  the  pathway  to  earth  will  be  a  familiar 
road.     ... 

*'The  growth  of  spiritualism  is  far  greater  than  is  supposed. 
Its  truths  are  falling  among  the  people,  silently  as  snow  upon 
the  earth.  Some  morning  you  will  awake  and  find  you  have  a 
white  robe,  and  yet  scarcely  know  from  whence  it  came.  Day 
and  night  your  spirit-friends  are  wearing  away  the  bulwarks  of 
ignorance  and  superstition.  They  are  instilling  noble  and  pure 
ideas  of  life  where  all  before  had  been  darkness  and  misery. 

"We  do  not  desire  to  establish  a  new  Church.  The  spirit- 
world  will  disfavor  any  organization  not  founded  on  individual 
fre'^do':'   -^nd  universal  truth.     God  gives  his  sunshine  to  alL 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


228  STAR TL ING  FA C TS  IN 

Let  it  penetrate  your  souls,  and  quicken  into  life  the  beautiful 
flowers  of  your  spirits.  You  well  know  spiritualism  is  not  to 
found  a  new  sect  or  to  establish  a  new  creed.  You  may  thank 
the  spirit-world  for  all  progress  you  make  in  knowledge  and  lib- 
eral thought.     The  power  is  exhausted.     I  can  write  no  more. 

"Josephine." 

The  followii:sg  letter  seems  to  have  been  written 
to  expose  the  inconsistency  of  believers  in  Bible 
spiritualism,  who  reject  similar  manifestations  in 
modern  times  : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LE'L'TERS,  No.  IV.) 

"My  Dear  Friend, — Spirit  intercourse  is  called  'a  new 
revelation,'  and  yet  it  has  existed  in  all  ages  of  the  world  that 
have  found  a  place  in  human  history.  In  olden  times,  spirits 
were  received  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  as  honored  guests  ; 
but  to-day  they  are  rejected  as  demons  or  as  emissaries  of  the 
'Evil  One.' 

"What  has  made  this  great  revolution  in  the  minds  of  men  ? 
Has  tlie  wisdom  of  modern  days  discovered  all  that  was  an- 
ciently good  to  be  modernly  bad  ?  or  have  the  laws  entering  into 
Ihe  constitution  of  nature,  changed,  so  that  to-day  they  invert 
the  order  of  the  things  they  formerly  established  }  We  are  told 
by  modern  savants  that  the  laws  of  nature  never  change.  Then, 
why  may  not  spirits  return  to-day,  and  hold  conversation  with 
the  living  present,  as  they  did  in  the  days  of  Moses  and  the 
prophets  ?  Or  was  God  so  very  partial  to  the  Dark  Ages,  that 
he  permitted  his  embassadors  to  visit  those  only  who  were 
i<niorant  of  the  facts  which  modern  science  reveals  1  Do  not 
those  who  die  lo-day  pass  into  the  same  spirit-land  that  those 
did  who  died  centuries  ago?  And,  if  so,  is  their  love  any  less 
for  those  they  leave  on  earth  than  was  that  of  the  old  Jews 
who  returned  to  commune  with  their  friends  and  kiiulred  ?  O 
no!  The  law  of  cause  and  effect  is  unchangeable.  If  one  spirit 
lives  all  live.  The  law  which  develops  the  growth  of  a  child 
is  universal  in  its  operation.  Doubt  tins  you  may;  but  the  fact 
will  confront  you  forever.  Do  not  diavv  your  skeptical  robes 
too  closely,  or  you  will  make  your  form  ungainly.  Your  better 
judgment    tells   you   that   the   doctrine  of  immortality  is   true. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  -229 

or  why  these  longings,  this  unsatisfied  feeling,  this  unrest  of 
mind?  Stand  firm!  The  truth  will  uproot  all  error  in  your 
soul. 

'M  fear  I  have  failed  to  interest  you  this  morning;  but  such 
as  I  have,  I  give.  I  remain,  your  true  friend, 

"Josephine." 

The  following  may  be  termed  an  interesting  busi- 
ness-letter. It  opens  a  chink,  which,  if  it  does  not 
reveal  specifically  the  purposes  of  the  spirit-world, 
fairly  intimates  the  character  of  their  grand  enter- 
prise. The  spirits  applaud  discrimination  among  their 
workers,  and  have  intrusted  Mrs.  Hollis  with  one  of 
their  most  important  missions  : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  V.) 

"My  Dear  Friend, — When  I  entered  the  spirit-world,  I 
was  amazed  as  tiie  spirits  disclosed  to  me  the  greatness  of  the 
work  they  had  undertaken  to  accomplish.  To  successfully  carry 
out  their  purposes,  old  institutions  of  earth^many  of  them  hoary 
with  the  age  of  centuries — had  to  he  swept  away  ;  and,  in  doing 
this,  the  foundation  of  things  seemed  to  be  ■  hroken  up,  and 
nature  itself  convulsed. 

*'  But  the  scales  soon  dropped  from  my  eyes,  and  I  hegan  to 
see  all  this  was  for  the  best.  The  great  Creator  had  set  our 
feet  in  firm  places,  and  established  our  goings  forever.  1  now 
know  that  the  foundation  upon  which  we  stand  is  rock,  and  no 
waves  can  wash  it  away. 

"Every  movement  of  the  spirit-world  is  made  in  accordance 
with  God's  system  of  laws.  All  these  will  succeed  in  good  time, 
as  soon  as  the  proper  instrumentalities  are  employed  to  work 
them  out.  These  are  now  being  selected  and  set  to  work.  All 
over  the  earth,  men  and  women  are  engaged  in  doing  the  work 
arranged  for  them  by  unseen  and  unrecognized  superintendents. 
We  do  not  doubt  our  victory  will  come.  All  we  want  is  work- 
ers ;  intelligent  men  and  women  who  possess  that  priceless 
gift  —  energy,  invincible  determination,  with  a  purpose  fixed. 
This  quality  will  accomplish  any  thing  we  wish — 'twill  snatch 
victory  from  the  very  jaws  of  despair. 

''But  few  are  qualified  to  do  our  work.     Our  best  work  is 

22 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


230 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


reserved  for  a  class  of  workers  yet  to  l^e.  Onr  medium  will 
stand  foremost  among  our  grand  agents,  and  to  her  we  have 
intrusted  one  of  our  most  important  missions.  Many  are  zeal- 
ous in  tlie  cause  of  S23irilualism  who  do  it  more  harm  than  good. 
Still  they  serve  to  agitate  the  muddy  waters,  to  liberate  the 
offensive  odors  from  the  mire  of  society.  But  even  here  the 
bright  sunlight  of  truth  will  finally  penetrate,  and  these  unclean 
places  will  be  made  pure. 

"Our  band  are  grcUeful  to  you  for  protecting  our  medium 
from  the  intrusion  of  the  unthinking  multitude.  We  are  grate- 
ful for  the  discrimination  and  nerve  evinced  in  excluding  from 
our  circles  the  presence  of  those  who  are  uncongenial  to  the 
conditions  through  which  we  work.  For  these  good  services, 
'  we  one  and  all  thank  you.  Josephine." 

As  a /'police  detective,"  spiritualism  promises  to 
take  high  rank.  Jim  Nolan  has  stated  many  times 
that  a  criminal  may  be  brought  into  the  presence  of 
Mrs.  Holhs,  in  company  with  twenty  innocent  per- 
sons, and  that  sbe  will,  while  blindfolded,  designate 
the  malefactor  simply  by  touching  his  hand.  A  knowl- 
edge of  this  fact  will  be  ''cold  comfort"  to  those 
who  think  they  can  depredate  on  life,  character,  and 
property,  without  detection  and  punishment.  But, 
more,  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  spirit-world 
can  reveal  the  name  of  a  person  who  has  been  guilty 
of  a  misdemeanor  or  crime,  if  they  deem  it  best  to 
do  so.     I  will  illustrate  this  by  citing  a  case  in  point. 

The  morning  after  Mrs.  Hollis  commenced  her 
fourth  engagement  at  my  house,  she  received  a  letter 
from  home,  which,  upon  opening,  was  found  to  con- 
tain an  inclosed  anonymous  letter,  that  had  been 
written  in  Cincinnati  and  mailed  to  her  in  Louis- 
ville. She  opened  it  at  the  breakfast-table,  and, 
after  reading  it  carefully,  passed  it  to  me,  simply 
remarking,  "  You  will  be  interested  in  that,  Doctor!'' 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  2  3 1 

The  letter  was  exclusively  about  myself.  It  was 
of  the  most  scandalous  personal  character,  dealing 
in  defamation  with  the  most  reckless  license.  After 
reading  it,  I  lost  my  appetite  for  breakfast,  and 
became  furiously  annoyed. 

I  never  refute  lies,  and  do  not  fear  them.  There 
is  something  more  than  political  wit  in  Ben  Butler's 
grim  declaration,  that  '*he  never  enjoyed  life  until 
he  lost  his  character."  Reputation  ought  to  be  able 
to  take  care  of  itself,  and  when  it  must  be  looked 
after  and  watched  and  guarded  every  hour  in  the 
day,  lest  it  do  something  very  naughty,  the  cost  of 
keeping  it  prim  is  really  more  than  the  thing  is 
worth.  But  this  letter  annoyed  me — not  because  of 
the  charges  it  made,  but  because  it  was -written  by 
a  cowardly  assassin,  who  lay  in  ambush. 

Any  man  is  liable  to  be  struck  in  the  back,  and 
it  is  sheer  bravado  to  say  he  does  not  fear  the  sti- 
letto. Society  is  full  of  Thugs,  who  are  always  to  be 
feared  ;  those  especially  who  control  a  depraved  press. 
Their  weapon  is  noiseless,  but  fatal.  They  strangle 
you  under  the  guise  of  Christian  fellowship.  O,  it 
were  better  to  be  accompanied  by  the  ocean  pirate  or 
the  midnight  assassin !  But  my  business  now  is  to 
disclose  how  the  spirits  aided  in  dragging  one  of 
these  cowardly  miscreants  from  his  hiding-place  into 
the  open  light  of  day. 

As  I  could  not  tell  who  had  slandered  me,  I  felt 
annoyed  and  restless.  This  was  uncommon;  for  lies 
ordinarily  are  short-lived,  and  I  let  them  die.  Mrs. 
Hollis,  seeing  me  fretted,  suggested  that  we  should 
consult  the  spirits  abcut  the  authorship  of  the  scan- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


232  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

dalous  letter.  This  we  did,  and  "old  Skivvaiikee" 
came  up  to  the  work  promptly.  He  had  found  out 
all  about  the  letter,  and  the  author  of  it ;  and  after 
imparting  all  the  information  he  had,  and  disclosing 
the  writer^s  name,  he  supplemented  his  statement  by 
declaring  it  as  his  opinion  that  ** 'em  old  dog  was  'em 
dam  old  muscle-shell!     So  T 

As  I  was  no  longer  in  doubt,  I  felt  easy.  Such 
a  scamp  cou]d  not  injure  the  reputation  of  any 
person,  no  matter  what  he  might  write,  only  by 
withholding  his  odious  name.  This  is  what  he  did. 
He  knew  that  he  was  impotent  to  do  harm  if  he 
were  unmasked ;  so  he  became  a  concealed-char- 
acter-ku-klux.  I  determined  to  circumvent  this  old 
slanderer,  let  him  turn  on  his  track  which  way  he 
would. 

Mrs.  Hollis  and  I  agreed  to  polish  the  ''  sJielV 
of  this  Old  *'  trilobite."  I  said  :  *'  He  has  been  guilty 
of  these  dirty  tricks  a  long  time,  and  it  will  be  doing 
a  good  service  to  bring  him  to  grief.  Now,  we  will 
carefully  remove  from  this  letter  our  names,  wherever 
they  occur.  Cut  them  out,  so  that  no  clew  may  be 
had  of  the  person  sending  it.  We  will  now  tear  the 
letter  into  little  bits,  leaving  no  piece  of  it  large 
enough  to  write  a  monosyllable  upon.  Put  these  in 
an  envelope.  Now  you  write  on  this  slip  of  paper  as 
I  shall  dictate:  *  Rascal !  the  whole  spirit-world  knovi^s 
of  your  villainy !  The  avenger  is  on  your  track,  and 
you  can  not  escape  him  !  Make  your  peace  !'  There, 
that  will  do;  no  signature;  put  it  in  the  envelope, 
with  the  little  pieces  of  his  own  letter.  When  he  gets 
them  he  will  know  what  it  means,  if  the  '  chickens 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  233 

belong  to  him.  He  will  be  a  little  more  than  sur- 
prised that  they  have  '  come  home  to  roost/  Now 
superscribe  the  envelope  to  this  address  ;  there  it  is, 
in  the  Directory.     All  right." 

That  same  evening  **Skiwaukee"  reported  pro- 
gress ;  said  the  letter  had  been  received,  **  that  em 
old  rat  was  sick ;"  and  said,  **  What  will  em  do }  what 
will  em  do  1  I  press  em  to  come  see  em  old  chief. 
Said  em  come  in  mornin\" 

True,  the  sickly  old  scamp  came  to  my  door  the 
next  morning,  and  I  met  him.  He  was  much  excited, 
and  said  he  had  received  a  singular  letter  from  me, 
which  he  wanted  some  explanation  about.  **  How  do 
you  know  it  came  from  me  T  I  said.  He  replied  he 
discovered  my  name  on  some  of  the  bits  of  paper 
inclosed.  Whereupon  I  took  him  by  the  throat,  and 
shook  him.  I  then  gave  him  my  promise,  that  in 
the  future,  if  he  did  not  take  more* pains  to  conceal 
his  lies,  especially  those  that  he  felt  it  his  duty  to 
write  about  me,  I  would  choke  the  **  daylights"  out 
of  him.  It  was  this  affair,  and  another  *'  cold-blooded  " 
lie  which  Murat  Halstead  published  in  the  Cincin- 
nati Commercial,  about  the  same  time,  concerning  a 
spiritual  seance  held  at  my  house,  that  induced  the 
writing  of  the  following : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  VL) 

"My  Dear  Friend,  —  I  greet  you  again,  as  a  failhful 
worker  in  the  liarvest-fiekl  of  principle  and  truth.  Wliat  you 
liave  written,  tlie  poodles  may  bark  at,  but  it  will  strike  liome 
to  the  consciences  of  thinking  men.  The  loving  messnges 
we  bring  will  dwell  in  their  heaits,  ;md  they  will  carry  them, 
like  waving  banners,  through  every  land. 

'*  People  often  say,  'Why  do  n't  Napoleon  say  something 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


234 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


worthy  of  himself?'  Say  to  such  that  'the  greatness  of  a  man 
is  not  measured  by  the  number  or  tlie  length  of  his  speeches.' 
My  husband's  executive  abihlies  were  without  a  parallel  in 
human  achievement.  Those  people  who  think  to  put  our  work 
down,  reckon  without  their  host.  The  serpents  who  sting  in 
the  dark  can  not  penetrate  iron  with  their  poisoned  fangs. 
Their  own  venom  will  return  to  their  craven  souls,  and  destroy 
them.  Ye  who  attempt  to  thwart  us,  beware  how  you  take  the 
step;  for  it  will  be  the  signal  for  your  passing  into  nothing- 
ness. When  the  spirit- world  is  aroused,  it  never  sleeps  until 
the  wrong  is  righted. 

''We  have  no  time  to  make  idle  promises.  When  my  hus- 
band's face  shines  on  any  one,  it  means  work.  It  will  again 
appear  in  France  with  power,  and  thrill  the  hearts  of  millions 
with  the  resolution  to  liberate  our  beautiful  country  from  the 
degradation  of  priestcraft  and  obscenity. 

"We  watch  the  progress  of  the  book  with  great  interest. 
It  has  an  aggressive  and  fearless  ring  of  truth  about  it,  that  will 
command  the  attention  and  respect  of  its  readers.  It  will  be 
bitterly  assailed  ;  but  fear  not. 

"  We  stand  by  you,  beloved  friend.     Good-bye  I 

"  Josephine.'* 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  235 


CHAPTER   XII. 

SEVERAL  LETTERS  FROM  JOSEPHINE  — EXTRAORDI- 
NARY STATEMENT  OF  MARSHAL  NEY  RESPECTING 
LOUIS   NAPOLEON'S   FATHER. 

A  FEW  more  letters  from  Josephine  will  not  fail 
to  interest  the  thoughtful  reader.  The  seventh 
in  the  series  will  attract  special  attention,  because  it 
discusses  a  question  of  absorbing  interest  to  a  major- 
ity of  thinking  people.  It  joins  issue  squarely  with 
the  dogmas  of  sectarianism,  and,  in  the  spirit  of  true 
catholic  charity,  states  plainly  that  the  doctrine  of 
separating  loved  ones  in  the  spirit-world  is  a  libel 
upon  the  Divine  character: 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LE'lTERS,  No.  VIL) 

"Friends  of  Earth, — Time  flies  !  Many  years  have  sped 
since  I  left  my  eartli-form,  to  become  a  dweller  in  the  realms  of 
truth  and  love.  Great  changes  have  taken  place  since  then  in 
the  affairs  of  men,  but  the  laws  governing  matter  remain  with- 
out variableness  or  shadow  of  turning. 

"How  few  there  are  among  you  who  comprehend  the  grand 
truths  that  are  wrapped  up  in  your  being,  or  the  glorified  des- 
tiny that  awaits  you  1  Bound  to  earth  by  selfish  passions,  all 
your  better  nature  lies  asleep,  and  will,  I  fear,  remain  so  until 
death  transforms  you  with  its  loving  touch,  and  opens  to  your 
soul's  enraptured  gaze  the  flowery  portal  of  the  spirit-world. 
Out  of  this  stupor  you  must  be  aroused.  Life  has  its  practical 
lessons,  which  ye  must  be  taught.  The  purposes  of  being  must 
be  understood,  if  you  would  fulfill  intelligently  the  great  mission 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


22,6  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

of  existence.  Tlie  law  of  creation  is  motion  ;  its  manifestation, 
progress.  Labor  disencumbeis  the  sou],  and  enables  it  to  give 
forth  higher  expressions  of  its  divine  character.  It  is  written  on 
all  things.  Work  is  progression  ;  idleness  is  rust  and  retro- 
gression. 

"Friends,  the  progress  you  make  on  earth  will  be  aids  to 
you  when  you  enter  the  spirit-world.  Divest  your  mind  as  much 
us  possible  of  all  corroding  error.  Stand  firm  in  the  pure 
atmosphere  of  truth  and  god-like  principle.  One  of  the  first 
lessons  you  learn  on  entering  spirit-life  is,  that  knowledge  is 
a  power  that  can  not  perisii.  Nature  wastes  notldng;  a  force 
created  will  live  forever  ;  all  knowledge  gained  by  man  on  earth 
will  be  profitable  to  him  after  the  death  of  liis  pliysical  body. 

*'The  Church  condemns  to  eternal  separation  the  spirits 
tliat  have  loved  each  oilier  on  earth,  and  makes  them  exiles 
from  joy  and  peace  forever.  This  dreadful  penalty  is  attached 
to  some  error  committed  in  earth-life — some  law  of  nature 
disobeyed,  some  inhibited  commandment  of  the  Church  disre- 
garded. I  come  to  tell  you  this  is  not  so.  You  may  have 
stumbled  on  the  path,  and  while  you  were  staggering  under 
the  weight  of  your  errors,  and  the  evils  of  misdirection,  your 
more  favored  companions  may  have  advanced  beyond  you;  but 
you  are  not  to  be  separated  forever.  You  will  outgrow  all 
errors  of  earth-life  in  the  spirit-world.  You  have  committed  no 
fatal  mistake,  no  wrong  which  time  will  not  rectify.  The  chasm 
of  separation  will  again  be  closed,  and  again  you  will  rejoin 
your  friends,  their  equal  in  purity,  their  peer  in  wisdom,  and 
their  companion  in  love.  These  are  the  grand  teachings  of 
modern  spiritualism.  Death  does  not  rob  you  of  your  loved 
ones.  They  are  waiting  for  you  on  the  threshold  of  their 
shining  homes,  and  when  you  enter  the  spiiil  land  they  will 
guide  you  along  flowery  pathways  to  their  sublime  abodes. 
That  will  be  the  reward  of  your  virtues  and  the  triumph  of 
your  suffering. 

"O,  dear  friends,  it  is  our  privilege  to  know  these  reunions 
will  not  be  thwarted.  Here  there  are  no  accidents,  no  mis- 
takes ;  law  governs  all.  Listen  to  the  spirit-voices;  they  will 
teach  you  good  and  pure  lessons,  and  bring  joy  to  your 
hearts. 

"The  tiny  'raps'  bring  messages  from  your  loved  ones; 
but  ye  fear  them,  or  affect  to  believe  them  not.     Ye  say  they  are 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  237 

beneath  the  dignity  of  glorified  spirits.*  Do  they  not  preach  to 
you  more  eloquenlly  of  the  afler-Iife  than  all  the  pulpit-orators 
in  your  land?  They  assure  you  of  continued  existence  beyond 
the  grave.  Failh  you  have,  but  not  knowledge.  O,  faith  is 
a  dead  form — an  idol  of  clay,  beautiful,  but  deceptive  !  Like 
moths  sporting  in  a  Summer-day,  men  and  women,  in  a  giddy 
throng  of  fashion,  follow  it.  Being  blind  itself,  where  will  it 
lead,  but  into  spheres  of  vice,  crime,  and  discord  ?  The  power 
fails.  Josephine." 

Somewhat  similar  in  character  to  the  foregoing 
is  the  following  letter,  a  careful  perusal  of  which 
will  show  that  the  dogmas  taught  by  creed-bound 
theologians  are  not  in  high  favor  in  the  spirit- world. 
We  learn,  when  we  enter  spirit-life,  that  we  must 
give  up  many  conceits,  which  we  were  at  special 
pains  to  acquire  in  this.  Among  the  most  worth- 
less ''rubbish"  cast  away  as  detrimental  to  spiritual 
progress,  that  will  litter  the  road  leading  to  the  Tem- 
ple of  Truth,  will  be  catechisms,  surplices,  crucifixes, 
chalices,  holy  candles,  wafer-plates,  and  puddles  of 
holy  water.  These  will  lie  scattered,  in  bitter  mock- 
ery of  our  fear  and  ignorance,  all  along  our  pathway : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  Vtll.) 

^*My  Dear  Friend,— The  whole  world  is  trying  to  ex- 
plain away  the  mystery  of  spirit  phenomenn,  but,  as  yet,  with 
indifferent  success.  A  number  of  so-called  scholarly  men  have 
advanced  theories    which   only   tend  to   show   the   poverty  of 

*And  so  they  may  be.  Glorified  spirits  never  condescend  to  ad- 
dress people  of  such  inconsequential  caliber.  Those  who  receive 
inferior  messages,  find  in  them  but  the  reflex  image  of  their  own  in- 
stincts. Josephine  ought  to  know  that  people  who  laud  themselves  by 
such  remarks  belong  to  the  new  order  of  "shoddy,"  who  alone  deal  in 
such  profligate  dignity.  What  could  these  well-dressed  idiots  do — 
how  could  they  live — if  they  did  not  themselves  occasionally  adminis- 
ter such  a  sop  to  feed  their  inordinate  vanity?     O  temporal  O  mores! 

Nep. 
23 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


238  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

tlieir  resources,  and  the  poor  material  of  whicli  great  men  are 
sometimes  fashioned.  Those  who  make  no  claims  to  scholar- 
ship, think  more  clearly  on  tliis  subject,  in  many  instances,  than 
the  sava7its. 

"It  sliould  be  understood  that  the  manifestations  of  spirit- 
power,  now  dawning  upon  your  planet,  are  the  legitimate  result 
of  ages  of  hard  work  in  the  spirit- world.  The  purpose  is  to 
establish,  among  the  people  of  the  earth,  social,  political,  and 
rehgious  freedom.  To  be  thwarted  in  this  design  by  a  cramped 
and  ignorant  theocracy,  is  an  exigency  not  to  be  tolerated  here- 
after. The  path  of  progress  must  be  left  unobstructed.  The 
underbrush  and  rubbish  must  be  cleared  away;  the  work  of 
redeeming  the  world  from  ignorance  and  superstition  must  go 
forward;  and  all  who  oppose  its  completeness  will  be  made  to 
sink  out  of  sight. 

"  The  world  has  suffered  by  ignorance  too  long.  The  des- 
tiny of  man  will  henceforth  be  better  understood.  Those  who 
have  misled  the  multitude  by  their  fears,  and  built  temples  by 
the  tribute  of  ^Peter's-pence,'  will  seek  shelter  in  them  from 
the  maddened  passions  of  an  outraged  humanity.  Human 
nature  can  endure  much,  and  is  of  long  suffering;  but  there  is 
a  limit  to  the  sublimest  virtues. 

"  SpiriUialism  has  taught  more  truth  to  man,  respecting 
his  post-mortem  existence,  in  the  last  twenty-five  years,  than 
Jiad  been  shed  upon  the  world  in  the  preceding  five  hundred. 
It  has  educated  people  to  think  without  fear;  and  thouglu  is  the 
life-principle  of  the  great  center  of  intelligence.  It  has  aroused 
tiie  finer  impulses  of  the  soul  into  action,  as  the  sun  and  dew 
quicken  into  life  the  beautiful  flowers  of  the  earth. 

"The  Churches  have  attempted  to  impede  its  progress  by 
throwing  their  dark  shadow  athwart  its  shining  pathway,  but 
in  vain.  Men  have  become  god-like,  and  now  think  for  them- 
selves. What  kills  the  plant  so  soon  as  to  exclude  it  from  the 
sunlight?  If  it  lives,  it  is  only  to  maintain  a  feeble,  sickly  exist- 
ance.  So  with  man,  when  you  deny  him  the  freedom  of  reason 
and  the  sunlight  of  truth.  He  exhibits  the  unskilled  accents 
of  the  babe,  the  tottering  step  of  the  invalid,  the  vacant  stare 
of  the  demented.  Day  by  day  they  are  taught  the  dogmas  of 
Church  creeds.  They  are  commanded  to  believe,  until  reason 
totters  to  its  center,  and  existence  becomes  a  purposeless  blank 
and  life  a  living  curse. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  239 

"Into  these  dark  abodes  of  ignorance  and  superslilion  spir- 
itual light  is  now  streaming,  and  fear  is  being  banished  from 
the  minds  of  men.  Stand  firm,  ye  noble  workers  in  the  form  ! 
Back  of  the  curtain  of  time  there  is  great  reward  for  ye  who 
do  your  duty  well  Josephine." 

On  the  reception  of  the  foregoing  letter,  I  asked 
why  the  spirit-world  did  not  develop  good  mediums 
in  the  Churches,  where  they  would,  like  Oakes 
Ames's  pewter,  do  most  good  ;  to  which  the  follow- 
ing was  given  in  reply : 

"Around  every  one  is  formed  a  band  of  spirits,  and,  wlien 
in  the  Church,  the  magnetic  influence  from  the  members  of  the 
congregation  go  out  and  surround  the  medium.  This  forms  a 
chain  that  hokls  the  spirits  back,  and  binds  such  to  tlieir  okl 
doctrines  and  dogmas.  This  is  the  reason  that  no  good  medium 
can  attend  an  orthodox  Church,  and  remain  so.  This  is  the 
cause  of  so  many  faikires.  Josephine." 

These  letters  of  Josephine  were  frequently  sug- 
gested by  conversations  I  held  with  Mrs.  Hollis,  or 
others  in  her  presence.  While  a  subject  would  be 
under  discussion,  raps  on  the  table  would  indicate 
that  the  spirits  had  something  to  say  on  the  ques- 
tion in  dispute.  Mrs.  Hollis  would  then  hold  the 
slate  under  the  table,  wher^  they  would  write  their 
views  freely.  In  this  way  I  ascertained  that,  what- 
ever was  being  said,  was  heard  and  understood  by 
the  spirits.  0\\^  day  we  were  discussing  the  subject 
of  Napoleon's  return  to  France,  Mrs.  Hollis  having 
implicit  faith  in  Josephine's  prediction,  and  I  hesi- 
tating in  my  loyalty  to  such  doctrine.  The  slate  was 
called  for,  when   the  following  was  promptly  given: 

(JOSEPHINE'S  letters,  No.  IX  ) 

"  My  Dear  Friend, — We  work  by  circles.  The  higher 
gives  to  the  lower.    So  from  the  bright  sphere  of  wisdom  comes 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


240  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

many  of  the  directions  I  give  you  from  spirits  who  have  long 
since  left  the  earth. 

'*Did  the  thought  never  occur  to  you,  lliat  those  grand  out- 
births  o(  genius  which  always  startle  the  world,  were  but  rein- 
carnations of  some  brilliant  mind  that  had  lived  before?  Think 
of  that. 

"  We  are  working  very  hard  to  free  this  first  sphere  of  many 
errors  that  are  choking  out  the  higher  truths.  We  depend 
upon  workers  to  help  us  who  are  still  in  the  form.  To  aid  in 
tearing  away  the  slavish  fetters  of  creed  from  the  human  soul, 
and  to  arouse  to  active  thought  millions  of  Church-sleepers,  is 
no  ignoble  mission.     We  have  no  time  to  trifle.     ... 

"Josephine." 

The  following  letter  is  somewhat  personal ;  but 
in  it  is  shown  the  disinterested  character  of  the 
writer,  so  much  so  that  it  will  be  read  with  satisfaction 
on  that  account.  It  contains  other  points  of  interest 
as  well,  which  will  not  escape  the  eye  of  the  observ- 
ant reader : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  X.) 

"My  Dear  Friend, — All  streams  flow  to  the  ocean.  So 
it  is  with  man,  who  is  ever  propelled  by  a  grand  law  of  his 
nature,  toward  the  sphere  of  immortal  life.  Some  pass  along 
without  thought,  others  with  indifference,  and  some  with  dread 
approach  the  destiny  that  awaits  them.  Now,  what  we  want 
to  do,  is  to  refine  their  coarse  fiber,  and  put  wisdom  into  their 
thoughtless  brains.  This  will  bring  out  the  nobler  attributes 
of  their  souls. 

"All  people  need  transplanting.  The  old  ground  becomes 
impoverished.  Memory  must  live,  but  we  do  not  want  that 
memory  to  be  darkened.  It  is  pleasant,  when  people. come  to 
spirit-life,  to  possess  the  remembrance  of  something  good. 

•'We  have  not  rushed  into  this  work  without  thought.  In- 
deed, we  never  do  any  thing  without  first  considering  well. 
There  are  some  spirits,  like  mortals,  who  will  say  or  do  any 
thing  to  please.  This  class  do  great  harm;  but  it  can  not  be 
helped.  The  same  law  that  opens  a  pathway  for  one  to  return 
enables  a  million  to  do  the  same.     Now,  if  you  have  noticed 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  24 1 

closely  our  commiinicalions,  you  will  liave  observed  that  we 
have  very  often  directed  our  medium  to  do  many  unpleasant 
tilings,  such  as  almost  took  her  breath  at  the  time.  In  this 
way  we  do  our  duly,  no  matter  whether  it  is  pleasant  or  other- 
wise. We  do  not  wish  to  cause  mental  or  physical  suffering, 
but  if  they  are  incidental  to  the  dischaige  of  our  duty,  we  do 
not  hesitate  to  inflict  both.  What  we  do  is  for  the  good  which 
may  result  from  our  action. 

"Remember,  I  gave  up  my  beloved  husband  that  France 
might  have  an  heir  to  her  throne.  Ah,  sir,  no  woman's  heart 
ever  suffered  more  than  mine  when  making  this  sacrifice.  I  now 
see  it  was  for  the  best,  but  could  not  think  so  then.  Work  on 
with  a  cheerful  heart  and  a  wise  head.  All  will  be  well.  The 
whole  spirit-world  are  your  friends  and  fellow-workers  in  the 
cause  of  justice,  free  thought,  and  truth. 

"Josephine." 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  cabinet  seances,  which 
will  hereafter  be  more  minutely  recorded,  was  that  in 
which  a  nimiber  of  French  spirits  materialized,  and 
presented  their  faces  at  the  aperture  in  the  door  of 
the  cabinet.  As  they  did  this,  their  names  were  first 
audibly  announced.  When  the  beautiful  face  of  Hor- 
tense  Bonaparte  was  presented,  I  said  to  those  in  the 
circle,  "That  is  the  mother  of  Louis  Napoleon,  but 
I  do  not  observe  in  the  pictures  of  the  son  any 
resemblance  to  the  mother." 

As  she  retired  from  the  light,  the  stalwart  arm 
of  Marshal  Ney  was  projected  into  the  room,  and, 
picking  up  the  pencil  from  the  slate,  wrote  on  it : 
*'The  conditions  under  which  the  child  was  begotten 
were  not  harmonious;  so  he  does  not  look  hke  either 
of  his  parents." 

I  audibly  made  answer,  "Was  not  Hortense's 
marriage  a  love-match  .?" 

"She  loved  the  emperor  more/'  he  wrote, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


242  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

*'  Still,  would  her  platonic  affection  for  Napoleon 
affect  the  organization  of  the  child  ?"  I  asked. 

**  Napoleon,"  answered  Ney,  "was  not  much  given 
to  sentiment.  His  relation  to  Hortense  was  more 
than  platonic." 

*'But  the  child  was  born  in  wedlock.?"  I  persisted. 

*'  O  yes  :  and  so  have  thousands  been  ;  but  it  is  a 
wise  child  that  knows  its  father." 

''As  I  have  but  quite  recently  read  the  Life  of 
Josephine,  I  remember  she  speaks  of  Hortense  charg- 
ing her  with  being  over-zealous  in  bringing  about  a 
marriage  that  would  separate  her  from  the  society  of 
the  emperor.  I  suppose  Josephine  had  some  cause 
for  desiring  her  daughter's  marriage  ?" 

"That  was  unkind  and  unjust  in  Hortense  to 
Josephine.  Her  mother  would  have  made  any  sacri- 
fice for  France  and  the  emperor.  Her  marriage  to 
Louis  was  a  diplomatic  affair.  It  was  arranged  by 
the  emperor  himself,  and  only  urged  by  Josephine 
on  that  account,"  wrote  Ney. 

"The  relation  you  intimate  as  existing  between 
Napoleon  and  Hortense  was /r^-marital,  of  course.?" 

''Pre  and  post.  The  time  I  specifically  refer  to 
was  in  the  generation  of  Louis." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  the  first  emperor  was 
the  father  of  the  third  T 

'^As  much  so  as  of  the  second  f' 

"This  is  not  generally  understood  or  believed.  I 
never  heard  this  statement  before,  nor  have  I  ever 
seen  it  in  print.  I  do  not  think  many  suspect  what 
you  have  just  said  :  though,  of  course,  I  do  not  know 
what   people   think;  but   there  is   so  little  personal 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  243 

resemblance  existing  between  the  first  and  third  em- 
peror, and  their  habits  of  thought  and  action  are  so 
dissimilar,  that  your  statement  stands  in  vrai-sem- 
blance  to  the  facts,  and  may  be  fairly  questioned." 

"Are  you  quite  sure  you  fully  understand  the  law 
of  geniture  ?" 

"Certainly  not !  But,  on  the  contrary,  I  am  quite 
sure  I  do  not  understand  it.  The  only  thought  I 
have  on  the  subject  is,  that  physiological  science 
ought  to  prove  the  maxim  of  physical  science  true; 
that  is,  that  'like  causes  will  produce  like  effects/ 
Do  n't  'like  beget  hke  ?'" 

"Yes :  but  that  implies  the  necessity  of  complete 
spiritual  harmony,  and  perfect  adaptation  in  the 
begetting  relation." 

"  Now  you  obscure  the  whole  matter.  If  you 
involve  the  subjects  of  temperaments,  affinities,  con- 
jugalities, and  the  oi\\t\:  fogities^  in  considering  this 
question,  I  must  beg  leave  to  remain  quiet,  and 
receive  whatever  statement  you  make,  without  further 
interruption  or  comment." 

"  Please  yourself  best.  The  law  of  procreation 
can  only  express  itself  perfectly  when  the  conditions 
are  reciprocally  harmonious.  The  emperor  could  npt 
give  a  perfect  expression  of  himself  if  there  was  not 
a  corresponding  receptivity.  The  germinal  third  em- 
peror was  more  beset  with  dangers  to  life  and  limb 
than  the  daring  leader  of  Lodi,  or  the  coroneted 
victor  of  Austerlitz." 

"Taking  this  view  of  the  subject.  Marshal,  the 
begetment  of  a  child  in  the  likeness  of  its  father  is 
a  vara  avisy  and  to  expect  it  to  be  a  perfect  type  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


244  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

both  parents,  is — well,  to  draw  the  first  prize  in  a 
grand  lottery  scheme." 

''You  are  apt  in  your  conchisions.  You  now 
understand  how  the  third  emperor  may  be  the  son 
of  the  first,  without  possessing  either  the  mental  or 
physical  characteristics  of  his  father." 

*'l  can  understand  that  very  well;  but  still  the 
fact  remains  that  Louis  Napoleon  was  born  in  wed- 
lock, and  there  is  no  testimony  on  record  to  inval- 
idate the  claim  of  Louis,  the  brother  of  the  first 
emperor,  and  the  husband  of  Hortense,  from  being 
the  lather  of  the  present  exiled  Emperor  of  France." 

At  this  juncture  Ney  began  a  most  extraordinary 
oral  statement  of  the  intimacies  of  Napoleon  and 
Plortense,  in  which  he  named  circumstances,  places, 
persons,  giving  dates  which  are  historically  correct, 
all  tending  to  prove  his  declarations  true.  It  was 
the  most  plausible  circumstantial  statement  I  ever 
listened  to.  He  was  proceding  to  clear  up  some  ob- 
scure part  of  the  testimony,  when  an  audible  voice 
in  the  cabinet  said,  **  Stop,  Ney,  you  have  said 
enough." 

Hereupon  this  remarkable  revelation  was  brought 
to  a  close. 

All  this  is  given  as  an  introduction  to  the  follow- 
ing communication,  which  was  received  next  morning: 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XI.) 

*'My  Dear  Friend, — Each  day  brinj^s  to  light  some  liid- 
den  mystery  of  the  past.  Last  night  you  were  ratlier  startled 
by  the  revelations  made  concerning  my  daughter.  That  widch 
was  disclosed  to  you  is  true  and  well  known  in  the  spirit- 
world. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  245 

''When  there  is  entire  compatibility  of  temperaments,  and. 
an  interior  love,  these  relations  are  well  ;  but,  if  that  does  not 
exist,  then  no  such  intimacy  should  be  maintained,  as  resultant 
organizations  will  suffer  from  inharmony  and  discord.  The 
spirit,  however  liighly  developed  it  may  be,  can  not  express 
itself  through  an  imperfect  matrix.  Tliose  who  are  tlius 
wrongly  begotten  may  struggle  and  writhe  under  their  unfor- 
tunate conditions,  but  they  will  ever  suffer,  while  in  the  form, 
the   penalties   of  the   violated    laws    of   the    conjugal   relation. 

"So,  in  this  instance,  my  daughter  loved  Napoleon;  but 
there  was  not  that  mutual  adaptation  for  a  perfect  expression 
of  the  procreative  law.  Theretbre  Louis  is  not  an  entire  suc- 
cess. The  flowers  drink  in  the  dew  and  sunlight,  and  be- 
come more  beautiful  and  lovely.  So  should  the  soul-love  and 
heart-sympathy  be  attracted.  If  tlie  emperor  had  been  to  Hor- 
tense  as  the  sun  is  to  the  flowers,  their  offspring  would  have 
been  all  that  could  be  desired,  and  the  necessity  for  another 
Napoleon  being  born  in  France  obviated.  The  medium  is 
exiiausted.  Josephine." 

We  will  present  but  one  more  of  these  interest- 
ing letters  at  this  time.  A  second  series  will  follow, 
in  connection  with  the  phenomena  occurring  in  the 
dark  circles  and  the  table-manifestations,  during  Mrs. 
HoUis's  last  engagement: 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XII.) 

^'My  Dear  Friend, — I  will  try  again  to  give  you  some 
ideas  to  enlighten  mankind.  The  only  religion  that  will  save 
the  world  from  its  sins,  and  raise  it  from  its  degradation,  must 
find  its  way  to  the  hearts  of  men  througli  the  filtering  process 
of  human  reason.  Science  and  philosophy  will  be  its  hand- 
maids, and  eternal  laws  and  immutable  truths  its  gospels. 

''Deep  down  in  the  soul,  there  is  an  intense  longing  to 
know  something  of  man's  future  life — to  know  really  whether 
lie  is  immortal  or  not.  Churches  have  been  founded  to  gratify 
these  desires,  but  their  speculations  are  unsatisfying.  Wordy 
declamation  will  not  feed  the  soul.  It  can  only  subsist  on  the 
bread  of  life,  which  must  be  leavened  with  knowledge.  To  a 
mother  who  has   lost  her  child,  the  teachings  of  the  Church 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


246  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

can  give  but  little  consolation.  Her  heart  aches  the  more 
when  she  is  told  it  is  God's  will  to  take  her  darling  away.  The 
criminal  sinks  beneath  a  load  of  laws  he  never  understood; 
and  in  his  ignorant  extremity  he  is  told  to  repent,  and  put  his 
sins  on  Christ,  if  he  would  be  perfectly  happy.  No  man  born 
with  the  common  instincts  of  justice  in  his  soul,  ever  believed 
that  story.  He  may  say  what  he  pleases  ;  deep  down  in  his 
spirit  he  accepts  no  such  doctrine.  He  hopes  it  may  be  true; 
but  that  will  not  make  it  so.  O,  let  it  be  understood,  that 
when  the  spirit-world  opens  wide  to  your  view,  you  will  then 
learn  that  an  eternity  is  too  short  to  lose  the  memory  of  a 
broken  law  of  nature ;  that  a  darkness  will  ever  hover  around 
the  sin,  until  the  spirit  becomes  pure  and  enlightened.  All  sin 
must  be  atoned  for  by  the  sinner.  Reparation  is  the  only 
acceptable  repentance,  saith  the  law.  Sin  and  suffering  go 
hand  in  hand. 

*'  How  many  are  hungering  for  light  and  knowledge,  and 
yet  how  few  there  are  who  have  the  moral  courage  to  grasp 
the  truth  when  it  is  presented  to  them!  They  start  in  trepi- 
dation when  it  comes  in  the  simple  words  of  a  mother,  'I  still 
live  and  love  you.'  When  in  the  form,  these  were  welcome 
words  that  warmed  your  heart,  and  inspired  your  soul  with 
love.  Why  should  they  be  less  so  now.?  Laying  aside  the 
physical  does  not  change  their  character.  O  no,  my  dear 
friends  :  your  loved  ones  are  still  human,  possessing  the  same 
love  that  filled  their  souls  when  they  were  with  you  in  the 
form.  Death  has  not  robbed  them  of  a  single  faculty.  Their 
love  has  grown  more  intense,  and  they  desire  you  to  listen  to 
their  voices.  O,  my  dear  friends,  you  are  throwing  away  golden 
opportunities  when  you  reject  us.  Let  us  tell  you  of  our  bright 
homes,  where  you  will  one  day  come,  and  from  which  you  may 
return  to  earth,  if  you  desire  to  talk  to  your  loved  ones  again. 
Listen,  and  treat  us  with  common  politeness.  This  is  all  we 
ask.  The  spirit-world  will  give  you  knowledge  you  do  not 
possess.     This  is  the  savior  you  have  been  expecting  so  long. 

"  My  dear  friend,  how  grateful  I  am  to  you  for  your  kind- 
ness I     Accept  the  love  and  devotion  of 

''Josephine  Bonaparte." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  247 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SPIRIT  TELEGRAPHING— FRANK  STEVENS'S  MESSAGES 
WRITTEN  IN  TELEGRAPHIC  CHARACTERS— NOLAN 
DESCRIBES  SPIRIT  TELEGRAPHS— INSPIRATIONAL 
IDEAS  — BRIDGE-BUILDING  — ROEBLING  AS  A  ME- 
DIUM. 

IN  Mrs.  Hollis's  second  engagement,  about  the 
middle  of  November,  1871,  at  the  close  of  a  dark 
circle,  held  in  the  back  room  of  the  third  story  of 
my  dwelling,  the  first  sounds  of  spirit  telegraphing 
were  heard.  I  made  a  minute  of  the  circumstance 
at  the  time  of  its  occurrence,  from  which  I  extract 
the  following : 

*'The  usual  manifestations  had  ceased,  when  the 
spirit  of  a  telegraph-operator  began  to  write  by  *  taps/ 
There  was  not  a  person  in  the  room  that  could  'read 
by  sound  ;*  so  whatever  the  import  of  the  communi- 
cation may  have  been,  it  was  not  understood.  The 
experiment  continued  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  the 
*  taps '  varying,  as  I  have  heard  them,  when  the  key 
of  an  instrument  was  being  manipulated  by  a  regular 
operator  in  transmitting  messages.  I  make  a  record 
of  this  circumstance,  with  the  belief  that  the  spirits 
intend  employing  this  means  to  communicate  with 
their  friends  in  the  form." 

After  this  manifestation  had  terminated,  and  before 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


248  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  conditions  of  the  circle  were  changed,  I  said  to 
Jimmy  Nolan,  **What  does  all  this  mean?" 

"  It  was  an  experiment  in  telegraphing,"  was  his 
reply. 

''By  whom?"  I  asked. 

*'A  spirit  entered  the  circle  by  permission  of  our 
band.  He  brought  a  telegraph  instrument,  upon 
which  he  operated.  He  did  not  give  his  name,  or 
speak  while  he  remained." 

''  Had  I  known  he  was  coming,  I  would  have 
engaged  the  services  of  a  'sound-reader,'  to  receive 
his  messages." 

"This,  I  understand,  was  only  an  experiment, 
which  will  be  hereafter  repeated." 

"Was  it  a  success  ?" 

"I  don't  know.  The  operator  seemed  to  be  sat- 
isfied, but  said  nothing." 

This  was  about  the  substance  of  the  conversation 
I  had  with  Mr.  Nolan  at  the  time ;  he  promised, 
however,  to  keep  me  advised  if  any  thing  important 
should  be  disclosed  in  that  direction. 

I  began  to  reflect  on  this  new  method  of  com- 
municating with  the  spirit-world,  and  fancied,  if  it 
could  be  accomplished,  its  success  would  mark  a 
new  and  important  era  in  the  history  of  man.  My 
notions,  of  course,  were  crude  and  vague,  almost 
"  without  form,  and  void  ;"  still,  to  my  apprehension, 
these  "taps"  foreshadowed  a  new  revelation  of  divine 
law,  which,  in  its  operation,  would  exert  an  elevating 
influence  upon  the  destiny  of  the  human  race. 

When  the  Atlantic  cable  was  first  submerged, 
great  anxiety  was  felt  for  the  success  of  the  experi- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  249 

ment.  Men  looked  at  each  other  anxiously,  as  if  the 
Gi^eat  Eastern  contained  their  personal  treasures. 
The  success  of  the  enterprise  was  felt  to  be  im- 
portant to  all;  and  it  was  only  after  the  electric 
pulse  of  the  Old  World  throbbed  through  the  heart 
of  the  New,  that  the  painful  suspense  was  broken, 
and  the  people  shouted  for  joy.  The  names  of  Field 
and  Morse  became  immortal  as  their  spirits.  Their 
god-like  intellects  had  struggled  with  the  imponder- 
able forces,  and  won  another  victory  over  ignorance, 
bigotry,  and  superstition,  more  potent  for  good  and 
elevating  purposes  to  the  human  family  than  alh  the 
pious  pulpit'  platitudes  that  have  sounded  since  the 
reign  of  Caesar.  Let  their  names  and  fame  be  en- 
shrined in  gratitude  forever ! 

On  the  other  side  of  the  great  ocean  of  Life 
there  are  grand  spiritualized  minds  working  out  more 
intricate  problems,  for  the  uplifting  of  the  human 
family,  than  any  known  to  mortal.  Having  demon- 
strated the  actuality  of  the  after-life,  they  now  seek  to 
open  communication  between  the  two  worlds,  which 
will  enable  our  loved  ones,  dead,  to  speak  again. 
More  than  this,  they  seek  to  place  the  people  of  our 
planet  in  spiritual  communication  with  those  who 
inhabit  the  incomprehensible  systems  of  suns  and 
moons  and  stars,  which  scintillate,  like  tiniest  neb- 
ulae, upon  the  unmapped  bosom  of  space.  When  they 
shall  have  succeeded  in  this,  our  poor  groaning  earth 
will  for  all  time  shake  off  its  hideous  nightmare  of 
priestcraft,  and  kingly  rule  shall  curse  it  never  more. 

The  public  notice  I  gave  to  these  telegraphic 
"taps"   attracted   the    attention   of  a  gentleman    in 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


250  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Cincinnati,  an  accomplished  ''operator/'  who  had  long 
been  connected  with  the  telegraph  business.  In  an 
interview  with  him,  he  suggested  the  propriety  of 
placing  a  telegraph  instrument  in  the  dark  circle, 
for  the  spirits  to  operate  with.  I  did  this,  but  they 
could  not  use  the  key  any  more  than  to  give  a  "call." 
The  spirits  said  a  battery  must  be  formed,  and  an 
operator  taught  before  a  success  could  be  pronounced. 
My  suggestion  was  to  take  time,  but  stick  to  it  until 
completed.  Before  any  headway  could  be  made 
with  the  new  experiment,  Mrs.  Hollis's  engagement 
expired,  and  she  returned  to  Louisville.  Soon  after, 
I  forwarded  an  instrument  to  her,  with  the  request 
that  she  would  continue  the  experiments,  and  report 
to  me  from  time  to  time  the  progress  being  made. 
I  wrote  also  to  James  Nolan  that  there  was  a  tele- 
graph-operator in  the  spirit-world  by  the  name  of 
Frank  Stevens,  who,  perhaps,  would  assist  in  carry- 
ing forward  the  work  in  hand.  Stevens  was  well 
known  in  Cincinnati  as  a  telegraphic  expert,  and  a 
man  of  untiring  energy.  His  name  was  suggested 
by  one  who  knew  him  well. 

The  experiments  continued  almost  a  year  without 
giving  much  satisfaction.  It  was  not  until  the  30th 
of  October,  1872,  that  Nolan  wrote:  ''It  will  take 
us  some  time  to  get  this  thing  to  work.  Do  not  feel 
discouraged.  I  think  we  will  succeed ;  and,  if  we  do, 
it  will  certainly  revolutionize  the  whole  system  of 
telegraphing." 

I  had  no  thought  of  being  discouraged;  so  I 
wrote  in  reply  :  "I  am  hale  and  hearty,  with  my  'first 
wind.'    Go  ahead,  Jim,  if  it  takes  another  year  !    Write 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  25  I 

no  such  nonsense  to  me!  Success  will  compensate 
for  all !  Patience  and  perseverance  will  win !  Get 
Stevens  to  aid  you  1" 

On  the  6th  of  November,  just  one  week  after 
Jim  had  written,  Josephine  wrote  me  as  follows : 

"My  Dear  Friend,— We  are  very  desirous  that  tiiis  new 
manifestation  shall  be  given  through  our  medium,  and  will  make 
strong  efforts  to  effect  perfect  results.  We  are  trying  to  get 
our  instrument  in  order.  If  we  succeed,  it  will  be  one  of  tlie 
great  sensations  of  the  day,  for  by  it  we  will  bring  some  new 
ideas  to  earth  in  regard  to  telegraphing. 

''Yesterday  I  went  to  Franklin  and  Morse,  and  talked  to 
them  on  the  subject.  They  will  join  in  the  work,  and  are  san- 
guine of  success." 

On  the  1 2th  of  November,  just  one  year  from 
the  time  these  experiments  were  commenced,  Mrs. 
Hollis  wrote : 

"  While  holding  the  paper-frame  under  the  table, 
this  morning,  I  got  these  dots.  You  may  get  some 
one  to  tell  you  their  meaning,  if  they  have  an)^  I 
was  going  to  throw  them  in  the  waste-basket,  but 
Jim  insisted  that  I  should  send  them  to  you  : 


I  soon  found  an  interpreter  for  ''  these  dots,'^  and 
placed  the  paper  on  which  they  were  written  in  his 
hand.  As  he  scrutinized  the  characters,  I  watched, 
closely  his  face,  to  read  thereon  the  purport  of  this 
mystery,     T  felt  assured,  before  he  spoke,  that  ^' these 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


2152  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

dots"  were  intelligible,  and  my  anxiety  abated.  Still 
I  was  curious  to  know  what  they  signified.  With- 
out speaking  a  word,  he  wrote  with  his  pencil  on  the 
bottom  of  the  paper  : 

**  We  will  do  our  best  to  give  you  telegraphing. 
It  may  take  time,  as  all  things  do. 

*'F.  STEVENS." 

"That's  all,"  he  said,  handing  me  the  paper  again. 

"Well,  that  is  enough,"  I  thought.  It  was  the 
very  thing  I  wanted.  This  writing  was  a  success! 
but  I  decided  to  await  further  developments.  On 
the  day  following  the  reception  of  "these  dots,"  Mrs. 
Hollis  wrote  again  : 

"The  instrument  works  well  without  my  hands 
being  near  it,  but  whether  it  works  intelligibly  or 
not,  I  do  not  know.  Come  and  see  what  you  think 
of  it.     It  is  certainly  very  wonderful." 

I  accordingly  arranged  to  visit  Louisville  on  the 
17th  of  November,  and,  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day, 
sought  to  "interview"  the  spirits  on  the  subject  of 
establishing  telegraphic  communication  between  the 
two  worlds.  It  turned  out  not  to  be  a  good  time 
for  "interviewing,"  as  they  not  only  refused  to  give 
me  a  tap  on  the  key,  but,  by  a  provoking  reticence, 
ignored  the  subject  in  toto.  Several  spirit-friends 
wrate  letters  of  a  personal  character  ;  but  these  were 
not  exactly  what  I  wanted.  They  did  not  make  any 
allusion  to  the  subject  I  was  most  interested  in. 

"  Business  is  business,"  I  remarked  on  the  folio w- 
iw^  morning,  as  we  again  sat  to  the  table,  "and  I 
wish  the  spirits  to  make  the  best  use  of  time,  as 
I  ara  on  the  limit."    It  was  only  a  few  minutes  after 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  253 

this  gentle  reminder,  that  the  following  characters 
were  traced  on  a  commercial  sheet,  and  flung  from 
under  the  table  : 


24 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


254  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


I  am  told,  by  a  gentleman  who  is  well  qualified 
to  know,  that  there  are  but  few  errors  in  this  tele- 
gram, and  that  the  characters  are  made  with  accu- 
racy. To  this  gentleman  I  am  indebted  for  the 
following  translation  of  the  communication: 

''TO  THE  PEOPLE. 

"I  am  trying  to  perfect  telegraphing-.  It  will  only 
be  one  of  the  countless  steps  of  a  never-ending  de- 
velopment, which  began  far  back  in  the  past,  and  is 
to  extend  through  the  infinity  of  future  time.  "We 
will  first  give  you  raps,  then  will  come  the  long  mes- 
sages of  assurance  there  is  life  beyond  this  earth. 
What  other  doctrine  is  so  reasonable  ?  so  logical  ?  so 
consoling?  so  encouraging?  "What  other  can  offer 
such  powerful  incitements  to  activity?  "We  are  put- 
ting aside  the  material  that  has  covered  the  faces 
of  the  dead.  "We  are  bringing  a  purer  atmosphere, 
causing  the  upturned  eye  of  mortals   to  behold  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  255 

light.  "We  are  breaking  away  the  clouds  of  ignorance 
and  superstition  which  have  so  long  obscured  their 
vision. 

*'  Telegraphing  will  add  another  link  to  the  mighty 
chain.  I  shall  be  glad  to  do  all  that  will  be  in  the 
power  of  immortal  to  aid. 

"FRANK  STEVENS." 

A  few  minutes  after  receiving  the  above  address, 
another  communication,  in  telegraphic  characters, 
was. thrown  from  under  the  table,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing is  a  translation  : 

''My  Friend  W.,— I  am  glad  to  be  able,  in  so  short  a 
space  of  time,  to  give  these  marks.  I  shall  leave  nothing  un- 
tried to  perfect  this  work.  Many  spirits  with  myself  think  it 
will  be  a  grand  and  glorious  achievement.  My  friends  who 
knew  me  on  earth  will  cheerfully  attest  that  I  was  a  man  of 
energy,  and  I  can  assure  you  I  have  lost  none  of  it  by  putting 
aside  the  physical.  I  never  knew  the  word  'failure'  on  earth. 
I  don't  now.  I  am  happy,  and  will  often  communicate  with 
you.    Good-bye  !  Frank  Stevens." 

'"^November  18,  1872." 

These  two  communications  were  written  in  a 
space  of  time  not  exceeding  ten  minutes,  on  paper, 
in  excellent  characters,  in  a  lighted  room,  while  Mrs. 
Hollis  was  talking  freely  of  her  proposed  trip  south, 
to  spend  the  Winter  months.  I  made  this  statement 
to  a  young  man — a  telegraph-operator — who  is  not 
very  modest  in  the  estimate  of  his  own  ability,  when 
he  proceeded  to  enlighten  me  how  these  things  could 
be  done  by  the  person  holding  the  slate.  Of  course, 
I  listened  until  he  had  finished,  when  I  proposed  to 
pay  him  a  year's  salary,  not  exceeding  five  thottsand 
dollarSy  if  he  would  get  me  two  as  well-written  com- 
munications, of  equal  length,  in  the  same  space  of 
time,   and  under   precisely    the  same  circumstances. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


256  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

The  proposition  was  made  to  reward  him  for  his 
uncommon  modesty.  I  will  now  make  a  similar  offer 
to  any  telegraph-operator  in  the  United  States  or 
Europe,  and  will  modify  it  so  as  to  make  the  amount 
ten  thousand  dollars^  providing  there  is  a  forfeiture  of 
one  hundf'ed  dollar's  for  every  failure  that  attends  the 
effort.  I  think  this  a  good  chance  to  any  man  of 
ability  to  make  a  small  fortune  if  he  has  only  confi- 
dence and  modesty  enough  to  try  the  experiment. 

The  interest  excited  by  the  reception  of  these 
telegraphic  communications  induced  me  to  seek  an 
interview  with  Jim  Nolan  on  the  subject ;  so  the 
room  was  darkened,  and  it  was  only  a  few  minutes 
after  when  he  said  : 

''Doctor,  you  have  the  writing  f 

"  Yes :  but  will  it  ever  amount  to  any  thing  T 

**  Certainly!  Why  not?  The  time  is  not  very 
distant  when  telegraphic  communication  between  the 
two  worlds  will  be  as  much  established  as  it  is  now 
between  Louisville  and  Cincinnati.'* 

''Do  you  really  think  so  .^" 

"  Did  you  not  receive  two  communications,  written 
in  telegraph  characters,  an  hour  ago  T 

''  I  did  ;  but—" 

*'  That  should  convince  you  there  are  spirits  here 
who  understand  how  to  handle  a  telegraph  instru- 
ment.'' 

''That's  very  true.  But  does  it  follow  that  you 
can  establish  conditions  by  which  the  instrument 
can  be  worked  1  The  communications  I  received  were 
written  on  paper,  in  telegraph  characters,  I  admit ; 
but  could  they  be  given  through  an  instrument?" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  2$y 

*' Doctor,  it  is  no  more  difficult  to  telegraph  a 
word  than  it  is  to  write  it.  In  both  cases  it  requires 
practice.  That  which  is  needed  here,  is  a  band  of 
electricians  to  sustain  the  communicating  spirit,  while 
he  handles  the  key  of  the  instrument/' 

^'  Will  you  succeed  in  organizing  such  a  band  ?" 

**  To  be  sure  we  will." 

**  Will  you  be  able  to  dispense  with  human  medi- 
ums then  T' 

"O  no  ;  we  can  do  nothing  without  human  mag- 
netism. We  can  not  form  a  hand  to  work  the  key 
without  it." 

"  It  will  be  necessary,  then,  to  keep  a  medium 
near,  to  supply  the  element  with  which  you  mate- 
rialize the  spirit-hand  that  manipulates  the  key?" 

*'  That  is  it,  exactly  !" 

^'It  is  said,  Jim,  that  all  inventions,  all  the  dis- 
coveries we  make  in  science,  are  common  with  you 
in  the  spirit-world.     Is  that  true  ?" 

**  Nearly  so.  We  have  them  more  perfect  than 
you." 

''  Had  you  the  electric  telegraph  in  the  spirit- 
world  before  it  was  discovered  by  Morse.'*", 

*^  Yes  :  and  as  fast  as  we  c'an  find  better  mediums 
than  Morse,  we  give  our  improvements.  To  him  was 
given  as  much  of  the  principle  as  he  could  make  use 
of  in  constructing  his  machine.  He  was  a  medium 
of  our  will  to  that  extent.  Others  have  received  ad- 
ditional information,  and  still  further  acquisition 
of  knowledge  will  enable  you  to  make  still  further 
improvements." 

"  I  perceive,  then,  you  impart  your  ideas  or  infor- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


2$ 8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

mation  by  installments  ?  Can  you  improve  on  our 
present  system  of  telegraphing?  or  have  you  any  thing 
better  in  the  spirit-world  T 

^' Baron  Swedenborg  revealed  a  great  truth  to  the 
world  in  his  disclosures  of  the  law  of  correspondencey 

''1  understand  by  this,  that  whatever  exists  on 
earth  has  its  counterpart  in  the  spirit-world." 

/'If  you  transpose  your  proposition,  you  will  be 
more  accurate/' 

"  O,  you  would  have  me  state  it,  that  whatever 
exists  in  the  spirit-world  finds  its  correspondence 
here?" 

*'You  are  approaching  exactness.  Let  me  state 
it:  *  Whatever  you  possess,  exists  with  us  more  per- 
fect than  with  you/'^ 

''  Have  you  any  thing  more  perfect  than  metallic 
wires  for  conveying  electric  currents  ?" 

*'Yes:  we  have  electric  currents  without  the  wires. 
These  are  as  appreciable  to  our  eyes  as  your  metal 
conductors,  and  the  battery  which  enables  us  to 
transmit  our  thoughts  is  simply  zvill-power.  We 
not  only  send  thoughts,  but  we  go  ourselves  faster 
than  you  can  conceive.  Your  metal  conductors  are 
simply  the  channels  through  which  electric  currents 
flow.  We  see  these  currents  in  the  wire  as  you  see 
the  wire.  We  can  outstrip  them,  as  light  moves 
faster  than  sound." 

"I  understand,  then,  that  you  make  this  distinc- 
tion between  our  wires  and  their  correspondence  in 
the  spirit-world.  Over  the  first  are  transmitted  elec- 
tric currents  alone,  while  over  yours  are  thrilled 
electro-magnetic  currents.     Now,  I  am  a  little  con- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  259 

fused  in  apprehending  this  distinction.  It  sounds  to 
me  like  *  tweedle-dum  and  tweedle-dee.'* ' 

'*  I  can't  help  that!  By  the  aid  of  electricity 
and  Puck,  you  say,  you  can  put  a  girdle  around  the 
world  in  twenty  minutes ;  by  the  use  of  our  electro- 
-magnetic  currents  and  zvill-poweTy  I  can  make  the 
trip  myself  in  half  the  time." 

^'You  are  quick  as  lightning,  Jim.  We  have  no 
use  for  such  celerity.  But,  tell  me,  do  you  think 
these  electro-magnetic  currents  will  ever  supersede 
the  metal  wires  we  have  in  use  T 

"The  time  is  near  when,  with  an  improved  in- 
strument, these  celestial  currents  will  be  utilized 
for  the  benefit  of  the  world,  and  not  only  convey 
messages  from  city  to  city,  but  they  will  become 
channels  for  the  transmission  of  thought  between 
the  natural  and  the  spirit  world." 

*'You  are  getting  me  a  little  befogged  on  this 
subject.  Let  me  think  a  little.  This  doctrine  of  cor- 
respondence is  a  little  new.  Will  it  bear  a  general 
application  .'*" 

'*  Certainly  !  That  is,  whatever  you  possess,  exists 
with  us  more  perfect  than  with  you." 

**You  strip  us,  then,  of  all  creative  power,  and 
make  us  merely  imitators.'^" 

**Not  exactly  !  It  is  only  when  you  come  in  com- 
petition with  the  spirit-world  that  we  surpass  you. 
Man  in  the  form  has  created  nothing  valuable  to 
the  world  that  is  not  found  existing  here.  You 
model  our  ideas  the  best  you  can." 

'*Jim,  have  you  seen  the  great  suspension-bridge 
which  spans  the  Ohio  River  at  Cincinnati?" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


260  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

'  "O  yes;  and  have  crossed  it  frequently  with  my 
medium  and  yourself." 

"Well,  isn't  that  rather  creditable  as  a  human 
achievement  ?  You  will  admit  that,  to  Mr.  Roebling's 
brain  we  are  indebted  for  this  noble  monument  of 
his  genius  T\ 

"Do  you  know  what  a  brain  is,  Doctor?" 

"  I  iiave  seen  a  brain  !" 

"  Of  a  man  T 

"  Of  many  men,  and  horses  too  !" 

"Well,  the  brain  of  a  horse  and  the  brain  of  a 
man,  in  substance,   vary    but  little." 

"You  quibble,  Jim.  You  know  very  well  T  meant 
Mr.  Roebling's  mind,  not  his  material  brain  !" 

"An  intangible  principle,  which  exists  indepen- 
dent of  matter,  and  expresses  itself  as  intelligently 
through  the  brain  of  a  bird  as  through  the  brain  of 
a  man.  I  will  accept  your  substitution  of  mind  for 
material  brain,  but  wish  to  ask  you  a  few  ques- 
tions, which  may  assist  us  to  consider  this  bridge- 
building  in  a  somewhat  clearer  light.  First:  What 
relation  does  mind  sustain  to  matter }  Second : 
Does  mind  exist  independent  of  matter  1  And,  third  : 
Is  mind  so  individualized  that  we  can  emphatically 
say  it  was  Mr.  Roebling's  mind  that  originated  the 
bridge  ?" 

"  It  is  easier  to  ask  perplexing  questions  than  it 
is  to  answer  them.  I  fear;  instead  of  simplifying  the 
bridge  question,  3^ou  are  making  it  more  intricate. 
Still,  I  answer  in  general  terms,  that  mind  and  mat- 
ter, if  not  identical,  are  at  least  so  intimately  related 
that  the  destruction  of  the  one  involves  the  loss  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  26 1 

the  Other.  That  is,  I  do  not  think  they  exist  inde- 
pendent of  each  other  ;  therefore  they  become  unit- 
ized, *  flesh  of  one  flesh,  and  bone  of  one  bone/" 

''  That  is  a  monstrous  doctrine  you  profess  to 
believe.  Let  us  examine  it.  Mr.  RoebUng,  as  you 
knew  him,  no  longer  exists.  His  mind,  inseparably 
wedded  to  matter,  has  been  buried  with  his  brain 
and  body.  That  means  annihilation,  according  to 
the  infallible  laws  of  chemistry.  The  body  becomes 
disorganized,  and  ceases  to  exist  in  a  tangible  con- 
dition. Your  logic  compels  the  mind  to  share  the 
fate  of  the  body." 

/'Jim,  you  have  arrived  at  a  conclusion  repugnant 
to  my  feelings.  All  the  instincts  of  my  nature  recoil 
at  the  thought  of  annihilation.  I  now  perceive  I  have 
been  entertaining  a  conceit — an  undigested  notion — 
which,  like  an  iridescent  soap-bubble,  collapses  when 
touched.  Make  clear  to  my  understanding  the  knowl- 
edge you  possess  on.  this  subject  of  mind  and  its 
relation  to  matter.     I  will  listen  more,  and  talk  less/' 

'*  Death  is  the  act  of  divorcement  of  the  mind 
from  the  body.  The  body  perishes  ;  that  is,  its  form 
is  resolved  into  elemental  conditions.  Essentially,  it 
is  indestructible,  but  the  mind  pervading  the  body  is 
eternal  in  duration.  On  earth,  mind  clothes  itself  zv it k 
matter ;  in  the  elemental  world  it  clothes  itself  with 
spirit.  In  its  purest  condition,  mind  is  supreme  in- 
telligence; but  when  expressed  through  matter,  its 
wisdom  is  less  perfect  than  when  it  speaks  through 
a  spirit-form.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  there  are 
two  conditions  or  forms  through  which  the  Supreme 

Mind  expresses  itself.     First:  The  earth,  or  material 

2.5 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


262  STARTLING   FACTS   IN 

form  composed  of  concreted  elements  called  matter. 
Second  :  The  spirit-form,  which  is  really  matter  in 
its  more  sublimated  or  discreted  condition.  The  lat- 
ter form  enables  the  expression  of  the  higher  truths, 
and  transmits  them  to  the  coarser  forms,  which 
move  on  the  elemental  plane  of  life.  Hence,  the  ideas 
of  the  natural  world  originate  in  the  spirit- world, 
and  the  truths  of  the  spirit-world  emanate  from  the 
Supreme  Mind.  Perfect  organizations  are  unfolded 
for  the  expression  of  purest  thought.  Faulty  organ-  ) 
izations— alas!  the  world  is  full  of  them— can  not  j 
grasp  the  higher  truths  of  spirit-life. 

''I  will  illustrate  my  thought  with  the  case  in 
point.  The  suspension-bridge  is  but  an  actual  expres- 
sion of  an  idea — the  tangible  of  the  intangible  ;  the 
materialized,  immaterial  thought.  The  thought  was 
spiritual,  and  found  its  expression  through  Roebling's 
brain,  as  sounds  are  reflected  through  the  bosom  of 
the  winds.  Thus  he  only  becomes  the  medium  of 
the  thought,  not  the  originator — the  inspired,  not  the 
inspiration.  History  is  full  of  the  grand  achievements 
of  men  and  women  who  have  been  but  mediums  for 
the  outbirths  of  spiritual  ideas.  The  natural  world, 
you  will  now  perceive,  is  a  necessity  of  the  spiritual 
world.  It  completes  the  circuit  of  unfolding  and 
progressing  life.  Through  matter,  thus,  the  spirit- 
world  proclaims  its  grandest  truths.  All  men  are 
mediums,  to  subserve  some  special  purpose  ;  but  few 
there  are  who  possess  such  fine-strung  harmony  in 
their  natures,  that  the  highest  truths  may,  through 
them,  find  expression.  Of  such  was  Haydn,  whose 
soul  thrilled  with    spiritual  harmonies,  which   found 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  26$ 

expression  in  his  immortal  'Oratorio/  Raphael's 
spiritual    vision   opened   upon   the   sweet  face  of  the 

*  Madonna  and  Child/  before  he  transfixed  them  with 
enduring  pigments  upon  the  glowing  canvas.  Phi- 
dias   gazed    upon    his    'Nemesis'    and    his    majestic 

*  Olympian  Jupiter/  as  they  lay  dreaming  iii  the  un- 
shapely blocks  of  marble,  ere  a  chisel-mark  was 
made  or  a  hammer-sound  was  heard,  fashioning  them 
with  dignity  and  expression.  Shakespeare  caught  the 
inspiration  of  eternal  verities,  and  marshaled  them  in 
deathless  procession  along  the  lines  of  his  immortal 
verse.  O,  my  dear  friend,  there  is  a  world  of  beauty 
which  the  natural  eye  doth  not  see !  It  is  a  world  of 
melody  that  the  natural  ear  doth  not  hear.  It  is 
peopled  with  intelligences  which  but  few  understand. 
It  is  the  source  of  natural  life,  supplying  you  with  all 
that  is  true  and  beautiful  and  good/' 

*'  Now,  Jim,  stop  this  rhapsodizing.  I  have  no 
doubt  but  you  have  spoken  the  truth ;  but  we  started 
to  talk  about  material  things,  and  here  you  have 
whipped  me  off  into  airy  nothing,  into  the  realms  of 
intangible  speculation.  Please  answer  me  this  prac- 
tical question  :  Could  this  bridge  have  beeit  bttilt  with- 
out Mr.  Roeblings  brain  to  superintend  its  const^ntc- 
tionf  Now,  stick  to  the  point  squarely,  and  no 
dodging." 

*'  I  have  already  stated  that  brain-substance,  essen- 
tially, is  the  same  in  man  and  beast.  You  mean  the 
mind  flowing  through  Roebling's  material  organi- 
zation }     Mind  is  impersonal." 

''Well,  if  that  suits  you  better,  answer!" 
"No:   not  that;  particular  bridge.     It  would  be 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


264  STAR  TLING  FA  CTS  IN 

impossible  to  find  another  organization  precisely  like 
Mr.  Roebling's,  through  which  mind  could  so  exactly 
express  itself.  The  bridge  embodied  the  highest 
truths  which  Mr.  Roebling  was  capable  of  receiving 
at  the  time.  But,  one  year  later,  he  became  the  recip- 
ient of  a  new  influx  of  ideas,  which  discovered  to 
him  errors  that  would  have  been  corrected  in  the 
construction  of  another  bridge.  Man  is  eternally  un- 
folding his  faculties,  placing  himself  thereby  in  more 
intimate  relation  with  the -causative  world.  The  Mr. 
Roebling  who  built  the  bridge  at  Cincinnati  was  not 
the  same  gentleman  who  constructed  the  bridge 
across  Niagara  River.  Organizations  through  which 
mind  develops  itself  are  changing  day  by  day.  The 
mind  of  Webster,  almost  god-like  as  it  was,  flow- 
ing through  a  different  organization,  might  be  stale, 
vapid,  and  commonplace.  Gr  it  might,  under  more 
favorable  conditions,  exhibit  itself  with  such  gran- 
deur and  strength  that  all  its  former  achievements 
would  be  dwarfed  in  comparison.  Mind  will  exhibit 
its  quality  whenever  a  medium  is  found,  whether 
it  be  through  the  brain  of  a  Webster  or  *  Blind 
Tom.* 

*^  There  are  no  two  things  exactly  alike  in  the  uni- 
verse. All  organizations  of  matter  are  individualized. 
That  is  the  reason  the  suspension-bridge  could  not 
have  been  constructed  by  any  other  than  Mr.  Roeb- 
lings  mind.  I  fear  the  distinction  I  make  between 
brain  and  mind — or,  the  better  statement  would  be, 
mind  and  matter — is  a  little  obscure." 

'^  No:  your  distinction  is  well  made;  still  I  can 
not  surrender   my  brain-theory  to  your  mind-theory 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  265 

without  further  illustrations.  In  the  organization  of 
the  brain,  is  there  not  some  center  of  motion  wherein 
thought  is  generated,  where  there  is  a  galvanic  action 
of  brain-glands  by  which  all  your  spiritual  ideas  may 
be  explained?" 

"If  there   is    such   a   self-acting   organization   in 
which  a  spring  of  intelligence  spontaneously  flows  in 
the  structure  of  the  human   brain,  you  should   point 
it  out,  else  you  will  be  charged  with  the  insincerity 
of  following  a  devious  fancy,  rather  than  the  guidance 
of  a  fact.     The   French  writer,   Descartes,  advanced 
the  thought  that  thQ  pineal  gland,  which   is  a  little 
soft,  gray  substance  of  a  conical  shape,  situated  just 
above  the  qnadri  gemina,  was  the  seat  of  the  soul 
and  the  center  of  mind.     It  is  in  this  little  gland — 
no  larger   than   a   marrow-fat    pea — where  the  great 
creative  power  (of  bridge-building)  is  born.     Its  tiny 
chambers  become  the  picture-galleries  of  all  the  ideas 
you  illustrate  in  matter.     All  thought,  all  passion,  all 
impulse,  all  action,  springs  from  this  common  center. 
Do  you  think  Descartes  was  a  philosoplier.  Doctor? 
But  spare  your  breath,  for  he  has  presented  the  best 
theory  for  the  material  origin  of  ideas  that  has  yet 
been  essayed.     It  is  the  only  demonstrated  argument 
that  has  as  yet  been  attempted." 

"As  I  am  not  a  follower  of  Descartes,  I  may  speak 
of  his  pineal  gland  hypothesis  with  entire  freedom. 
It  seems  absurd  to  my  mind." 

"And  yet  no  more  absurd  than  to  talk  about  'a 
change  of  heart;  which  thirty  thousand  or  more  paid 
priests  are  doing  all  over  your  land,  every  day  and 
night  in  the  year." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


266  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

'*I  fear  you  are  irreverent,  Jim.  You  have  so 
little  respect  for  the  cloth." 

''\  fear  so,  too.  I  have  but  little  reverence  or 
respect  for  men  or  cloth,  when  they  impede  the  influx 
of  truth  to  the  understanding  of  the  world.  It  is 
good  for  us  all  that  this  'pineal  gland*  theory  is  not 
true,  else  the  old  'infallible'  blatherskite  would  con- 
centrate all  his  official  cursings  into  one  word,  and 
call  it  lightning,  with  which  pineals  would  be  St. 
Bartholomewized  in  a  jiffy,  or  be  damned  as  'flat  as 
fips/" 

"Well,  let  the  pineal  glands  go,  and  return  to  the 
bridge.  I  fear  I  do  not  understand  you  exactly.  Sup- 
pose I  admit  the  idea  of  the  bridge  to  have  been 
imported  by  Roebling  through  the  custom-house  of 
his  brain :  now  that  we  have  it  in  a  materialized 
expression,  have  we  not  secured  it  for  all  time?'* 

*'A  prisoner  you  would  make  ill  No:  you  have 
only  secured  the  shadow  of  the  idea.  The  idea  itself 
is  indestructible." 

"But  the  bridge — " 

"Is  a  mere  shadow!" 

"A  hundred  thousand  tons  of  granite  and  iron?" 

"Yes,  a  hundred  thousand- millions.  Ideas  are 
eternal,  but  matter  has  no  permanent  form.  There 
are  reciprocal  forces  ever  at  work  building  up  new 
and  destroying  old  forms.  Children  come,  and  men 
go.  So  granite  and  iron.  The  destruction  of  your 
bridge  is  only  a  question  of  time,  which,  measured 
by  eternity,  is  but  half  a  swing  on  the  pendulum  of 
the  clock  of  the  universe." 

"And  these  forces  will  destroy  my  body?" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  267 

*'What  if  they  do?" 

"But  I—" 

"Will  live,  like  the  idea  of  the  bridge,  forever! 
Your  body  is  nothing  but  a  crystallization  of  ele- 
ments about  the  form  of  your  spirit.  It  can't  think! 
It  is  not  you,  no  more  than  is  your  old  coat!" 

*'But  your  logic  annihilates  my  body;  and  that  is 
all  I  know  myself  to  be." 

"You  are  to  be  pitied!  You  are  startled  by  the 
thouo-ht  of  having  your  body  annihilated.  How  does 
the  annihilation  of  two  cities  impress  you?  Two  have 
recently  expired  in  flames*  Do  you  expect  them  to 
.be  reorganized  as  they  were  before  their  elements 
were  liberated  by  fire  ?" 

"But,:  Jim,  there  is  a  difference  in  the  building 
material  of  a  city,  and  the  material  of  a  human  body  ?" 

"Human  bodies  were  burned  with  the  cities.  Did 
the  fire  discriminate  in  their  destruction  ?" 

"  No  r 

"Of  course  not!  The  same  elements  are  found 
in  building-material  for  houses  that  are  found  in  the 
building-material  for  bodies.  Lime  in  the  stone,  lime 
in  the  bone.  When  chemistry  discovers  an  element, 
she  calls  it  by  name,  and  does  not  say  it  belongs 
exclusively  to  a  cow  or  a  dog  or  a  pig-headed  man ; 
does  shef 

"  The  body  of  a  horse,  I  understand  you  to  say, 
is  composed  of  the  same  elements  as  the  body  of  a 
man?  What  difference,  then,  is  there  between  a 
horse  and  a  man  ?" 

"  Mind  !  And  that  only  in  quantity,  not  in  quality. 
*The  destructive  fires  of  Boston  and  Chicago  are  here  alluded  to. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


268  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Thorough -bred  horse-sense  compares  favorably  with 
the  'scrub-sense'  of  the  uneducated  clod-pole." 

''Jim,  you  have  trotted  around  'Robin  Hood's 
barn'  several  times,  and  have  got  me  in  a  perspira- 
tion. Will  you  please  tell  me  just  exactly,  and  in 
few  words,  what  you  are  di'iving  atf 

"  Do  n't  stultify  the  subject  by  '  lingo.'  Do  you 
not  see  that  all  my  illustrations  prove  that  ideas  have 
a  spiritual  origin  ;  that  they  are  organized  forces, 
seeking  material  expression  to  benefit  the  world ; 
that  they  find  you,  not  you  them  ?  Thus  the  ideal 
bridge  found  a  medium  for  giving  the  best  expression 
of  itself  through  Roebling's  organization.  The  tele- 
graph found  one  in  Morse.  Steam  begged  of  Fulton 
to  utilize  it  for  the  benefit  of  man.  The  spirit  sewing- 
machine  could  find  no  better  medium  at  the  time 
than  Howe.  And  impersonal  truths  have  poured 
their  inspirations  into  the  receptive  brains  of  all 
men  that  have  lived  in  the  w^orld  since  the  morning 
of  Brahma  to  the  high  noon  of  Walt  Whitman.'* 

"I  understand  you,  then,  to  reverse  the  accepted 
order  of  things.  All  our  great  discoveries,  you  allege, 
are  but  inspirations  from  the  spirit-world  ;  that  man 
creates  nothing,  only  as  be  is  acted  upon  by  intel- 
ligence outside  of  himself;  that  he  does  not  even 
discover  law,  but  law  discovers  him  T 

"  Your  statement  is  nearly  correct." 

"  I  fear  this  sort  of  spiritualism  will  find  but  few 
advocates  T  ■ 

"  That  makes  no  difference  in  the  status  of  truth. 
The  multitude  do  not  think.  They  follow  the  lead 
o^  the  most  noise.     The  'still,  small  voice'  is  never 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  269 

heard  by  the  boisterous  rabble.  Don't  talk  to  me 
about  the  tm-thinldng  herd.  One  clear-headed,  brave 
thinker,  through  whom  the  senate  of  the  skies  de- 
livers its  grand  truths  to  the  world  is  worth  more 
to  mankind  than  a  million  purblind,  bigoted,  creed- 
bound  moles  and  bats,  who  chatter  and  grin  about 
their  creeds,  their  baubles,  and  their  splendid 
churches." 

**You  would  be  crucified,  Jim,  for  uttering  such 
sentiments,  if  you  lived  in  Cincinnati." 

"I  know  that  very  well ;  but  the  truth  would  live 
without  me.  And  yet  Cincinnati  is  no  worse  than 
Boston,  Baltimore,  or  Philadelphia.  All  cities  are 
made  up  of  money-cbang-ers,  stock-jobbers,  pawn- 
brokers, factors,  venders  and  drinkers  of  lager-beer, 
butchers,  soap-boilers,  tobacco-dealers,  shop-keepers, 
hucksters,  and  fashionable  wine-drinkers.  Wliat  ap- 
preciation can  spiritual  truths  receive  at  such  hands  } 
Such  people  believe  in  the  commodities  they  handle. 
Have  they  not  stomachs  to  feed,  backs  to  clothe; 
and  respectability  to  maintain  V 

"  But,  Jim,  are  they  not  happy  T 

'' O  yes:  'tis  true,  and  pity  'tis,  'tis  true,  that  he 
is  happiest  who  has  most  flesh  and  blood,  the  strong- 
est sinews,  and  the  stoutest  stomach.  But  what  of 
him  as  a  spirit  T 

*^ I  don't  know!" 

"  Think  a  little  !     Good-bye  !" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


2/0  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

A  HOST  OF  SPIRITS  — TWO  PRIVATE  LETTERS  — COL- 
ONEL PIATT  MYSTIFIED— A  SINGULAR  VISION— MO- 
HAMMED'S AUTOGRAPH— JOSEPHINE  EXPLAINS— 
NEY   AND   NOLAN  TO  BE   SEEN. 

ON  the  morning  succeeding  the  remarkable  inter- 
view recorded  in  the  last  chapter,  I  proposed 
leaving  for  home ;  but,  before  starting,  I  desired  to 
say  **  good-bye"  to  those  spirits  who  felt  an  interest 
in  my  movements.  For  this  purpose  Mrs,  Hollis 
again  held  the  slate;  and  it  was  only  a  few  minutes 
when,  from  the  frame,  a  sheet  of  paper  dropped 
upon  the  floor ;  then  another,  and  another,  at  inter- 
vals of  three  to  five  minutes.  These  were  covered 
with  written  signatures,  mostly  the  names  of  spirits 
that  had  at  different  times  written  or  spoken  to  me. 
They  gave  no  messages,  but  in  this  manner  simply 
announced  their  presence.  I  have  had  one  of  these 
pages  engraved  as  a  specimen,  thinking  that  the 
varied  chirography  might  interest  even  the  most 
casual  reader.  There  are  four  capital  J's  that  look 
as  if  they  might  have  all  been  written  by  the  same 
penman  ;  but  who  is  he }  Yet  the  capital  J  in  Mary 
Jordan's  name  is  as  unlike  the  others  as  possible. 
Excepting  Josephine  Bonaparte,  John  H.  Bradley, 
James  Nolan,  and  Daniel  M'Dowell,  the  remainder 
are  signatures  of  kins-people: 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  2/1 

QJ  ami 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


272  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

While  we  were  examining  these  autograph  sheets 
on  the  top  of  the  table,  almost  continuous  rapping 
was  heard  underneath,  which  we  understood  to  be  a 
call  for  the  slate.  Mrs.  Hollis  held  it  as  before, 
and  it  was  not  more  than  five  minutes  when  a  letter 
was  written,  which  purported  to  be  from  the  wife  of 
a  congressman  by  the  name  of  Gofortb,  living  in  or 
near  Lafayette,  Indiana.  There  was  nothing  in  the 
letter  that  could  be  of  the  least  interest  to  the  pub- 
lic, and  I  only  mention  the  fact  because  it  occurred 
precisely  in  the  manner  stated.  I  mailed  the  letter 
to  the  M.  C,  by  request  of  the*  writer,  but  have  not 
heard  whether  it  ever  reached  him  or  not.  At  the 
time,  I  had  no  knowledge  of  such  an  individual  being 
in  existence,  but  since  then  have  been  informed  that 
a  person  of  that  ilk  had  really  a  habitation  and  a 
name  in  and  about  the  vicinity  of  Lafayette.  Alas 
for  congressional  honor! 

"It  seems  to  be  a  good  morning  for  the  spirits, 
Mrs.  Hollis,"  I  said.  "  See  if  there  are  any  others 
who  desire  to  say  something."  Again  the  slate  was 
put  under  the  table,  and  again  we  succeeded  in  cap- 
turing another  letter.  This  time  the  communication 
was  for  Colonel  Donn  Piatt,  Washington  City,  D.  C, 
and,  like  the  preceding  one,  was  also  of  a  private 
character.  The  letter  was  accompanied  by  a  similar 
request,  that  it  should  be  mailed  to  the  given  address. 
Of  course,  I  obeyed  instructions,  and  in  due  time 
received  the  Colonel's  acknowledgments  for  the  same. 

The  following  extract  from  Colonel  Piatt's  letter 
contains  the  exceptionable  views  he  entertains  in 
reference  to  the  spiritual  origin  of  these  mysterious 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  2/3 

communications.  And  yet  he  does  not  seem  to  be 
more  satisfied  with  his  own  theory  of  *'  subtle  char- 
acterizations "  than  with  the  startling  facts  which 
stare  him  in  the  face,  and  ''will  not  down  at  his 
bidding."     He  writes  : 

"  For  myself,  Doctor,  all  that  I  can  say  is,  that  I  am  puzzled 
without  being  convinced.  I  know  that  the  inedmin  has  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with  the  manifestations  beyond  fnrnishing  the 
power,  whatever  that  is;  but  I  must  yet  liave  other  and  better 
proof  to  convince  me  that  the  intelligence  is  from  the  spirits  of 
the  departed.  The  more  I  strive  to  convict  my  understanding, 
the  more  unsatisfactory  it  becomes.  For  example,  the  letter 
before  me  is  not  the  voice  of — -. — .  The  names  mentioned^  aftd the 
facts  referred  to,  are  startlitig;  bnt  those  subtle  characteiHzatio7is 
that  convince  as  ^  soon  as  seen,^  are  wanting.'''' 

The  italicized  parts  of  the  above  show  very  clearly 
that  Colonel  Piatt's  position  is  similar  to  that  of  many 
others  who  have  had  to  deal  with  mental  phenomena. 
He  would  have  our  friends  speak,  write,  and  think,  just 
as  they  did  before  leaving  the  earth.  It  seems,  how- 
ever, in  the  vicissitudes  to  which  the  spirits  are  ex- 
posed in  obtaining  power  to  manifest  their  presence, 
that  they  do  compromise  in  some  manner  their  indi- 
vidual characteristics  by  which  they  were  known  as 
"soon  as  seen."  Jim  Nolan  has  said,  many  times, 
that  when  spirits  return  to  communicate  with  their 
friends,  as  soon  as  they  take  on  the  conditions  which 
enable  them  to  manifest,  they  are  influenced  or  lim- 
ited in  their  expression  by  the  mental  and  tempera- 
mental conditions  of  those  constituting  the  magnetic 
sphere  in  which  they  work.  For  the  time  being,  they 
are  entirely  dependent  on  those  persons  for  their 
power  to  speak  or  write  or  think,  just  as  a  musician 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


274  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

is  dependent  upon  the  instrument  through  which  to 
give  expression  to  his  inward  harmony.  Had  the 
colonel  been  present  himself,  by  the  introduction 
of  a  new  element,  the  whole  character  of  the  com- 
munication he  received  might,  and  probably  wou^j, 
have  been  entirely  changed,  and  those  ''subtle  ^  iiar- 
acterizations"  supplied  .that  are  now  wanting.  We 
experience  a  similar  phenomenon  in  our  intercourse 
with  people.  There  are  those  in  whose  presence  we 
are  almost  stifled  to  find  words  to  convey  our  most 
familiar  thoughts  in  an  intelligible  manner.  Others 
become  a  source  of  inspiration  to  us,  and  by  their 
unconscious  aid  we  grow  eloquent,  elegant,  and  ele- 
vated in  our  thoughts,  expression,  and  action.  Public 
speakers  especially  have  observed  this  difference  in 
their  audiences.  The  effect  is  obvious,  but  the  cause 
obscure.  In  view  of  all  the  circumstances,  my  sur- 
prise is,  not  that  the  spirits  are  able  to  individualize 
SO'  little,  but  so  much.  We  expect  too  much  and 
think  too  little  ourselves.  They  do  their  best  to 
manifest;  do  we  to  understand.'^  May  not  our  in- 
tellectual standard  of  criticism  be  faulty.'*  Are  we 
so  clear  in  our  apprehension  that  we  see  every  effect 
in  its  right  relation  to  the  producing  cause  .^  ''I  see 
two  objects,"  says  the  mal-formed  optic.  I  can  not 
see  one,  says  the  blind  man.     Both  are  right  wrong, 

**Go,  wiser  thou,  and,  in  thy  scale  of  sense, 
Weigh  thy  opinion  against  Providence; 
Call  impeifection,  what  thou  fanciest  such  ; 
Say  here  he  gives  too  little,  there  too  much. 


In  spite  of  pride,  in  erring  reason's  spite, 
One  truth  is  clear,  whatever  is,  is  right." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  275 

By  closely  scrutinizing  the  ideas  in  the  commu- 
nications, however  imperfect  their  verbal  expression 
may  be,  we  are  always  able  to  discriminate  between 
a  developed  and  undeveloped  intelligence.  Cultivated 
thought  will  exhibit  somewhat  of  its  quality  or  refine- 
ment, however  much  it  may  be  restrained  or  modified 
by  the  conditions  through  which  it  is  expressed.  In 
the  letter  to  Colonel  Piatt  this  sentence  occurs: 
"  O,  Donn,  I  believe  those  were  our  happiest  days. 
It  was  the  white-bread  of  life."  I  do  n't  know  how 
that  paragraph  may  sound  to  other  ears,  but  it  strikes 
me  as  being  so  refined  in  thought,  and  so  exquisite 
in  sentiment,  that  none  but  a  highly  cultivated  intel- 
ligence could  give  such  an  utterance. 

But  whether  the  spirits  whose  names  were  at- 
tached to  these  letters  really  communicated  them 
or  not,  is  no  part  of  my  purpose  to  discuss.  They 
came  in  the  manner  indicated,  and,  as  neither  Mrs. 
Hollis  nor  myself  did  the  writing,  it  would  interest 
me  very  much  to  know  exactly  who  did,  and  how 
it  was  done. 

But  this  was  not  all  that  occurred.  While  Mrs. 
Hollis  and  I  were  talking  about  the  letters  just  re- 
ceived, she  seemed  to  forget  our  conversation  and 
lose  all  knowledge  of  her  surroundings.  Looking  her 
in  the  face,  she  appeared  to  be  dreaming,  with  her 
eyes  wide  open — an  absent,  introspective  expression, 
that  impressed  me  with  a  sense  of  listlessness  or 
vacancy.  I  suspected  that  a  vision  had  broken  in 
upon  her  normal  senses,  as  I  had  seen  her  in  this 
condition  before.  I  sat  quiet  for  a  few  minutes, 
when  she  said  : 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


276  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"I  see  an  extensive  plain,  a  wide-spread,  low,  flat, 
singular-looking  country.  It  seems  to  be  an  intermi- 
nable, verdureless  waste.  There  is  no  shrub,  no  bush, 
no  tree,  or  any  symptom  of  vegetable  life,  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach,  excepting  along  the  banks  of  a 
turbid  river,  which  stretches  through  the  center  of  this 
muddy  plain.  The  stream  seems  to  be  stagnant,  and 
filled  with  hideous  reptiles,  who  lash  its  dirty  waters 
into  boisterous  waves.  The  banks  on  either  side 
are  fringed  with  leafless  trees,  from  whose  boughs 
are  draped  long  reaches  of  decaying  moss,  descend- 
ing to  the  water's  edge.  The  monsters  in  the  river 
make  a  most  hideous,  and  pitiful  sound,  as  they^ 
flounder  and  furiously  beat  the  waters  into  wildest 
commotion. 

"There  is  a  solitary  man  standing  near  the  river 
bank.  He  is  large,  muscular,  and  of  comely  shape. 
He  wears  a  turbaned  sash  about  his  head,  and  is 
covered  with  a  scarlet  mantle  reaching  to  the  ground. 
This  he  opens,  revealing  the  costume  of  a  Turk.  Hang- 
ing to  the  girdle  about  his  waist  is  a  broad,  crooked 
cimeter,  or  sword,  which  flashes  in  the  sunlight. 
Over  his  forehead  he  wears  a  brilliant  ornament  in 
the  shape  of  a  crescent,  which  sparkles  like  fire.  His 
beard  is  white  and  flowing  to  his  waist.  His  com- 
plexion is  olive,  and  his  eyes  large  and  intensely 
bright. 

"  He  now  points  to  the  sky  with  his  right-hand, 
and  now  to  the  earth.  He  speaks  vehemently;  but 
I  can  not  understand  what  he  says.  He  now  strips 
himself  of  all  his  clothing,  and  flings  them  in  the 
ugly  river  among  the  monsters.     They  wrangle  and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  277 

tear  them  to  pieces.  Extending  his  two  hands,  he 
says:  'Kingdoms  rise  and  fall ;  nations  come  and  go  ; 
but  Allah  rules  forever.  His  trnths  are  eternal.  His 
laws  are  changeless.  His  eye  never  sleeps,  and  his 
hands  are  never  idle.  I  come  to  help  ht  his  great 
worky  and  this  day  dedicate  myself  to  his  "service!  " 

''  How  strange  this  is !"  said  Mrs,  HoUis,  as  she 
seemed  to  recall  herself  as  from  a  reverie.  ''What 
does  it  all  mean  ?" 

*'  You  have  been  dreaming,"  I  said,  "  and  became 
a  trifle  rhapsodical." 

"  No :  I  have  not  been  dreaming,"  she  said ;  "  but 
what  I  have  told  you,  that  have  I  seen.  I  don't  sup- 
pose it  amounts  to  any  thing;  but  what^do  you  think 
of  it.?" 

"From  the  topography  of  the  country  you  de- 
scribe, I  guess  the  river  is  called  '  Styx.'  Did  those 
'hideous  reptiles'  roar  yon  like  preachers,  or  slobber 
you  like  idiot  editors,  when  they  lie  about  spirit- 
ualists and  spiritualism  T 
"  You  are  only  joking  !" 

*'I'm  not  good  at  divining.  Your  vision  is  very 
singular,  and  has,  no  doubt,  a  special  and  important 
significance,  if  we  only  knew  how  to  translate  or 
interpret  it.  Perhaps  the  spirits  will  tell  u^  what  it 
means.     Please  ask  them.^' 

Mrs.  Hollis  now  held  the  slate  again,  and,  as  she^ 
did  so,  said:  "I  smell  sandal-wood  and  odorous  spices. 
Do  you  not  smell  the  almost  suffocating  perfume.?" 
Hereupon  she  began  to  cough  as  one  who  is  stifled 
for  breath,  when  the  raps  indicated  the  communi- 
cation finished.     The  following  edifying  message  was 

26 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


278  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

then  found,,  written  on  the  paper,  a  facsimile  of  which 
is  here  presented  : 

mi  h  s  s  ^  I  %A^  ^ 

"Well,  I  can  see  nothing  in  all  this  but  con- 
fusion worse  confounded.  Will  the  spirits  please 
state  what  is  meant  by  this  vision  and  these  char- 
acters ?" 

In  reply  to  this  request,  Josephine  wrote  the 
following  letter: 

"  My  Dear  Friend, — The  vision  described  to  you  has  an 
actual  correspondence  in  the  spirit-world.  It  is  a  type  of  the 
condition  of  the  world  under  the  teachings  of  a  pagan  religion, 
and  the  spirit  described  is  Mohammed.  His  writings  continue 
to  exert  a  controlling  influence  over  the  minds  of  millions  of 
his  tawny  worshipers.  He  beholds  the  error  of  his  teaclnngs, 
antl  the  debasing  effects  they  exert  upon  the  lives  of  his  fol- 
lowers, and  has  come  to  renounce  them.  He  now  disclaims 
his  pagan  worship,  and  enlisls  himself  in  the  great  woik  of 
opening  communication  between  the  two  worlds.  He  has  given 
his  pledge  of  loyalty  to  the  cause,  and  sealed  it  with  his  royal 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  279 

cyphers.  Receive  him. with  dignity.  He  is  a  great  acquisition 
to  tlie  cause  for  which  we  all  labor,  and  exerts  a  controlling 
influence  over  millions  of  spirits  who  continue  to  revere  him 
in  the  spirit-world.  '      Josephine." 

It  is  my  turn  to  ask,  "  What  does  all  this  mean  V 
Assuming  the  statement  of  Josephine  to  be  true, 
what  purpose  is  to  be  subserved  by  this  vision  with 
its  co-related  circumstances  ?  If  it  is  intended  as  a 
joke,  the  point  is  obscure.  However,  it  is^not  my 
business  to  explain  all  I  see  and  hear;  but  it  is  my 
business  to  record  facts  as  they  occur,  for  others  to 
cogitate.  Still  this  is  no  more  a  mystery  than  the 
reception  of  the  letters  for  Colonel  Piatt  and  hun- 
dreds of  others,  which    come  in  the   same   manner. 

Marshal  Ney  then  wrote  that  he  would  try  to 
materialize  his  entire  form  in  the  cabinet,  when  he 
next  visited  Cincinnati  with  the  medium,  and  show 
himself  with  the  door  open.' 

Jim  Nolan  also  wrote  that  he  would  be  able  to 
talk  to  me  in  the  light,  that  I  might  see  him  during 
the  conversation. 

With  these  promises,  the  seance  closed,  and  I 
returned  home. 

Here  I  will  conclude  this  phase  of  manifested 
intelligence,  which,  for  the  want  of  a  better  name 
to  express  its  character,  I  call  '^spirit!'  If  excep- 
tions be  taken  to  this,  I  will  waive  my  assumption, 
providing  a  better  designation  is  offered.  ^'Manifesta- 
tions of  the  DeviV  has  been  suggested,  by  a  clergy- 
man of  the  Presbyterian  persuasion,  as  a  substitute ;  . 
but,  on  weighing  them  both — the  preacher  and  the 
devil — in  the  balance,  they  are  found  even.     Give  to 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


280  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  manifestations  any  name  you  please,  but  let  it  be 
reasonable.  The  subject  requires  plainness  of  speech. 
Sensible  men  and  women  demand  it. 

In  the  order  prescribed  for  my  writing,  I  will  next 
record  the  phenomena  I  have  witnessed  in  ''dark 
circles!'  In  doing  this,  I  .must  pursue  the  same 
course  I  have  with  the  spirit- writing ;  that  is,  to 
present  the  facts,  without  strictly  adhering  to  the 
chronological  relation  they  sustain  to  each  other. 

It  is  of  less  interest  to  the  general  reader  to  know 
the  exact  time  when  a  thing  occurred,  than  it  is  to 
know. that  it  really  did  occur,  and  hozv  it  occurred. 
The  difference  in  time  between  Sunday  and  Satur- 
day is  not  of  much  consequence.  I  am  placing  on 
record  phenomena  which  occurred  exactly  in  the 
manner  related.  Many  witnesses  could  testify  to 
these  occurrences  if  they  would  ;  but  as  they  will 
not  voluntarily,  they  shall  on  compulsion,  A  large 
number  of  the  witnesses  I  will  call  to  testify,  have 
the  moral  courage  to  do  so  voluntarily,  and  say  openly, 
in  no  mincing  manner,  what  they  knozv  about  spiritual 
phenomena.  Moral  cowards  shall  be  treated  as  such ; 
and  they  will  be  known  by  their  whining. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITVALISM.  28 1 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  DARK  CIRCLE— CHARACTER  DISCLOSED— SPIRITS 
SINGING  — CLAPPING  HANDS  — A  GRIP  — SKIWAU- 
KEE'S  TACTICS— ON  A  RAMPAGE— FLOATS  THE 
MUSIC-BOX -MRS.  HOLLIS  LEVITATED  TWICE  — 
CLAIRVOYANCE— JIM  NOLAN'S   ELOQUENCE. 

T  HAVE  already  described,  at  page  125,  the  man- 
-L  ner  of  forming  a  dark  circle.  It  simply  consists 
of  three  or  four  ladies  and  gentlemen  going  into  a 
pleasant  room,  from  which  the  light  is  excluded,  with 
Mrs.  Hollis,  to  witness  spirit  phenomena.  That  is  a 
fair  statement  of  the  premises.  There  is  nothing  ex- 
traordinary in  this  to  excite  suspicion  ;  and  were  it 
not  for  the  manifestations  which  occur  when  Mrs. 
Hollis  is  present,  the  circumstance  would  not  be 
worthy  of  special  remark. 

Sitting  in  the  dark,  in  the  momentary  expecta- 
tion that  something  extraordinary  will  occur,  has  a 
tendency  to  make  the  hearing  very  acute.  Every 
sound,  however  trifling  it  may  be,  seems  to  be  heard 
distinctly,  amid  the  profound  silence  and  darkness. 
No  movement  can  be  made  to  change  the  position 
of  your  feet  or  body,  vvilhout  the  fact  being  made 
known  by  the  now  alert  sense.  I  have,  to  test  this 
sense  in  those  in  the  dark  room,  upon  several  oc- 
casions,  extended    my    hand    forward,   and    moved    it 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


282  STARTLING  FACTS  JN 

quietly  from  side  to  side.  There  was  no  noise,  but 
simply  gentle  waves  of  the  air,  and  yet  this  was 
appreciable,  and  excited  inquiry. 

A  little  experience  in  the  dark  circle  will  enable 
you  to  judge  very  accurately  of  the  character  of  your 
company,  by  the  tone  of  their  voice.  It  is  remarka- 
ble how  you  learn  to  sense  almost  their  very  thoughts, 
when  in  the  dark.  Darkness  affords  no  facilities  for 
concealment.  If  I  desired  to  understand  the  true 
character  of  a  man  or  woman,  I  could  obtain  all  the 
needed  information  more  readily  by  a  conversation 
with  them  in  a  dark  room  than  in  a  light  one.  It 
has,  in  fact,  almost  become  a  fixed  conviction  in  my 
mind,  that  you  can  not  fully  appreciate  the  worth  of 
your  friend,  until  you  interview  him  in  the  dark  circle. 
Here  he  betrays  the  quality  of  his  manhood,  not  in 
what  he  says  so  much  as  in  the  indescribable  manner 
or  tone  he  employs  in  speaking.  If  he  *' affects  a 
virtue,"  or  a  style  of  speaking  not  natural  to  him,  he 
might  as  soon  proclaim  it  in  so  many  words,  to  escape 
the  harsher  criticism  which  his  duphcity  invokes.  In 
the  dark  circle,  I  have  observed  that  persons  who  are 
very  fastidious  in  their  taste  for  dress,  are  sadly  at  a 
discount.  Their  gewgaws  fail  to  divert  the  attention 
of  the  hearer  from  the  speaker,  and,  notwithstanding 
the  wealth  of  bodily  adornment,  there  is  a  poverty  in 
their  expression,  which  ^*  makes  them  (appear)  poor 
indeed."  "  The  costly  ornaments  and  studied  con- 
trivances of  speech"  have  no  eloquence  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  spirit-hosts.  There  must  ririg  out  the 
sound  of  true  metal  in  every  word  and  accent,  or  the 
base  alloy  or  spurious  coin  is  at  once  detected. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MO  DERM  SPIRITUALISM.  283 

How  sadly  people  deceive  themselves,  when  they 
enter  a  dark  room  with  the  view  to  practice  deception  ! 
A  young  man,  to  be  smart,  agreed  with  his  com- 
panions before  entering  the  circle,  that  he  should  be 
known  as  Jones,  When  he  pronounced  his  assumed 
name  in  the  dark,  it  was  evident  a  lie  had  been  spoken  ; 
and,  a  few  minutes  after,  the  spirits  disclosed  his  real 
name,  and  refused  to  give  any  other  test. 

Spirits  talk  best  in  the  presence  of  intelligent 
people.  Like  men,  they  can  not  display  their  powers 
of  rhetoric  or  elocution  in  the  presence  of  '*  sticks," 
no  matter  how  fashionably  dressed  they  may  be. 
The  dark  circle  very  soon  discovers  all  such  people. 
They  do  very  well  to  make  up  fashionable  audiences 
for  such  peacock  orators  as  Gough,  where  they  ex- 
claim, when  he  tosses  up  his  coat-tails :  ''  How  beau- 
tiful !  how  delightful !  how  entertaining  he  is  !"  I  say 
such  people  ought  to  keep  out  of  the  dark  circle. 
They  can  not  appreciate  the  philosophy  of  Nolan, 
or  the  stolid,  matter-of-fact  utterances  of  ''Old  Ski," 
who  rises  to  the  sublimity  of  scorn  when  he  calls 
them  '' papooses  r 

In  most  of  the  popular  modes  of  worship,  the 
services  are  begun  with  music.  In  our  most  fashion- 
able places  of  worship  this  is  a  ''hired  service,"  and 
is  paid  for  as  any  other  entertainment.  Exquisite 
music  commands  the  best  price.  The  prices  paid  are 
graduated  to  the  quality  of  the  voice.  Richness, 
volume,  purity,  compass,  are  the  desired  qualities  of 
sound  to  render  the  worship  more  impressive.  The 
fortunate  possessors  of  such  gitts  command  good 
wages— they  are  staple  endowments,  and  not  grudg- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


284  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

ingly  paid  for.  Nose  singers  are  not  in  requisition. 
One  organ  with  large  pipes  is  worth  more,  in  devout 
worship,  than  a  whole  congregation  oi  poor  squealers. 
The  only  thing  that  astonishes  our  pious  devotees  is, 
that  the  Lord  should  pay  any  alteiuion  to  these  nose 
singers,  when  he  could  be  better  entertained  with  the 
delightful  operatic  playing  of  Mr.  Morgan.  *'We  can," 
say  they,  "give  him  'Opera  Boufife '  in  our  cathedral, 
at  one  dollar  a  head,  which  is  certainly  very  much 
more  edifying  than  to  hear  a  hundred  poor  devils 
drawling  through  their  noses  : 

"  Come,  ye  sinners, /<7<?r  and  needy, 
Weak  and  wounded,  sick  and  sore  !" 

What  does  he  care  about  that  class  of  people  }  We 
never  associate  with  them  ;  and  if  the  Lord  does  not 
elevate  his  taste,  and  be  a  little  more  select  about 
the  company  he  keeps,  he  need  n't  come  to  our 
church.      We  can  get  along  very  well  without  him  /'^ 

As  I  w^as  going  to  say,  before  the  spirits  begin  to 
manifest  in  the  dark  room,  as  a  general  thing  they 
request  the  circle  to  sing,  or  somebody  to  play  a  flute, 
guitar,  or  harp.  Why  they  make  this  request,  I  do 
not  quite  clearly  understand.  Jim  Nolan  says  it  is 
because  the  electric  vibrations  of  sound  excite  a  freer 
discharge  of  magnetism  from  the  medium;  and  that 
music  also  has  a  tendency  to  biend  the  magnetic 
spheres  of  the  individuals  composing  the  circles. 
Both  of  these,  he  avers,  are  valuable  adjuncts  to  the 
power  for  giving  good  manifestations. 

"Sacred"  music  being  a  necessary  appliance  of 
worship,  and  not  being  able  to  supply  the  dreadful 
demand  upon  my  limited  ability,  I  invested  a  hundred 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN-  SPIRITUALISM.  285 

dollars  in  a  large,  sweet-toned  German  mnsic-box. 
It  was  the  very  thing — good,  fashionable  music,  that 
would  entice  St.  Peter  from  his  post,  if  he  were  mu- 
sically inclined.  It  answered  the  purpose,  and  gave 
satisfaction  to  the  spirits. 

But   now  commence  the  manifestations.     During 
the    singing,  a   number  of  spirit-voices  will  join  the 
concert,  which   can   readily  be   distinguished    by   the 
volume    of    sound,    the    clearness,    purity,    and    pre- 
cision of  articulation.      They  will  sing  alto,  air,  and 
bass,   sometimes    without    human    aid    of    any  kind. 
They  prefer,  however,  to  be  assisted  with  singing  or 
playing  by   some  one  in   the  circle.     With  no  other 
person  in  the   room    but   the    medium  and  myself,  I 
have  heard  the  vocalization  of  the  spirits  for  half  an 
hour,    and,  though  ^'unused   to  the   melting    mood," 
these   '-'heavenly    choristers"  have    moved    me    with 
their  sweet  voices,  as  neither  Lind,  Parepa,  or  Nilsson 
could    do.     The    scientist  takes    no  more  interest  in 
this    phenomenon,     however,    than     he   does    in    the 
'*  cackle  of  a  hen,"  and  is  ready  to  pronounce  it  all 
flummery.     But  not  so  fast,  my  Sir  Oracle!     I  want 
you  to  disclose,  just  here,  how  that  music  was  made, 
and    by    whom.      You   will,  I  fear,  not    make  these 
discoveries    with    the   aid    of  your    square,  compass, 
steelyards,  and  crucibles.     Electricity  and  magnetism 
elude  the  grasp  of  figures.     You  can  not  define  love 
with  mathematics.     You  can  not  wrap  up  all  creation 
in    formulated    problems.       You   gentleman  of  sub- 
traction and  division,  multiplication  and  addition— I 
ask  you  again,  and  charge  you  to  answer.  Who  sings  f 
If  any  one  entertains   the    thought    that  it  is    Mrs. 

27 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


286  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Hollis,  she  will,  if  your  bad  manners  insist  upon  it, 
engage  you  in  conversation  while  the  music  is  also 
heard.  These  melodists  sing  at  times  more  sweetly 
than  Methodists  at  a  love-feast. 

On  one  occasion,  Judge  W.  J.  Berry  and  Captain 
Edward  Air,  of  Newport,  Ky.,  and  myself,  sat  to- 
gether two  hours,  in  one  of  these  spirit-concerts, 
during  which  time  Captain  Air,  who  is  a  fine  vocalist, 
sang  not  less  than  twenty  test  songs,  *' old  and  new," 
in  every  one  of  which  the  spirits  joined,  frequently 
carrying  the  air,  and  supplying  the  forgotten  words 
when  the  captain's  memory  was  at  fault. 

This  singing  is  a  feature  in  the  dark  circle  ;  and 
is  so  real,  so  life-like,  that  it  is  most  difficult  in 
thought  to  disassociate  it  from  human  vocalization. 
If  every  facility  was  not  afforded  to  prove  the  absence 
of  human  aid  in  its  production,  it  would  be  most  diffi- 
cult to  believe  in  the  spirit-origin  of  this  pleasant 
and  instructive  phenomenon. 

The  next  manifestation  of  the  dark  circle  I  shall 
notice,  is  the  presence  of  spirit-lights.  These,  as  a 
general  rule,  appear  in  the  vicinity  of  the  medium's 
head  ;  and  vary  in  size  from  that  of  a  fire-fly  to  that 
of  a  man's  hand.  The  small  lights,  like  tiny  rock- 
ets, fly  in  a  straight  line,  from  three  to  six  feet, 
when  they  take  a  curvilinear  course,  and  expire 
in  different  parts  of  the  room.  I  have  seen  as 
many  as  ten  of  these  small  meteors  glowing  at  the 
same  instant,  though  never  more  than  one  of  the 
large  ones  at  a  time. 

The  large  light  makes  its  appearance  in  a  cloudy- 
looking  haze,  growing  each  moment  more  luminous 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  287 

until  it  becomes  of  a  brilliant  orange  color.  The 
lights  float  slowly  about  the  room  mostly  in  front  of 
the  .  circle.  These  spirit-pyrotechnics  are  seldom 
given,  for  the  reason  that  they  are  very  debilitating 
to  the  medium.  Some  persons  affirm  they  see  spirit- 
faces  in  these  lights  ;  but,  excepting  the  single  in- 
stance witnessed  in  the  circle  I  attended  in  Louisville, 
I  have  no  personal  knowledge  of  such  facts. 

Equally  noteworthy  with  the  singing  and  lights, 
as  occurring  in  the  dark  cirde,  are  the  manifestations 
of  power  which  can  only  be  exhibited  in  a  materialized 
form  of  the  spirit.  During  the  singing,  or  before  or 
after  it,  the  spirits  will  touch  your  hand,  take  you  by 
the  arm,  pat  you  on  the  head  or  knee,  and  clap  their 
hands  ^o  loudly  that  you  can  hear  them  in  the 
adjoining  room.  It  occurred  once,  just  as  I  extin- 
guished the  light,  at  the  beginning  of  the  circle, 
my  arm  was  grasped  with  such  a  "grip"  that  the 
imprints  of  ''old  Ski's"  huge,  muscular  fingers  were 
ecchymosed  under  the  cuticle  for  a  v^eek  after. 

Most  generally,  I  observed,  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  music,  the  spirits  would  clap  their  hands,  if  they 
made  any  demonstration  at  all.  Many  people  have 
seen  Blind  Tom,  the  negro  pianist,  and  will  remem- 
ber, at  the  conclusion  of  each  performance,  how  ju- 
bilantly he  claps  his  hands.  This  spirit  hand-clap- 
ping is  analogous — so  it  seems  at  least  to  me — to  that 
of  Tom's.  I  have  heard  as  many  as  half  a  score  or 
more  spirits  clap  their  hands  rapidly  at  the  same 
instant,  in  different  parts  of  the  room. 

Millions  of  people  have  heard  the  spirit-raps  ;  but 
not  so  many  have  heard  them  in  the  ''dark  circle." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


288  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

They  are  quite  a  different  article  here  from  the  little 
feeble  sound  so  often  heard  at  the  table  of  a  family 
circle.  A  green  persimmon  and  a  ripe  pear  could  not 
be  more  unlike.  Here  the  raps  have  volume,  force, 
power.  They  startle  you,  when  made  near  your  head 
or  heels,  like  the  crash  of  a  fore-hammer  striking- 
near  you  in  the  dark;  you  do  not  know  but  that 
some  of  the  strokes  are  intended  to  brain  you.  This 
makes  you  feel  decidedly  uncomfortable.  That  is  the 
way  '' Skiwaukee''  takes  the  starch  out  of  upstarts. 
I  have  heard  such'  cry  pitifully  not  to  be  hurt.  After 
the  old  savage  had  scared  his  victim  half  out  of  his 
wits,  he  would  soothe  his  agitation,  with  the  tender- 
ness of  a  woman's  voice,  by  assuring  him  that  he 
"won't  hurt  'em  papoose!"  (baby.)  I  never  knew 
"old  Ski"  to  undertake  a  job  of  this  kind  that  he  did 
not  succeed  in  putting  his  victim  on  his  good  be- 
havior for  the  remainder  of  the  evening.  Sometimes 
he  would  put  a  reed-horn  uncomfortably  near  the  ear 
of  the  badly  behaving  gentleman  or  lady,  and  give  it  a 
sudden  blow  that  would  almost  "split  the  ears  of  the 
groundlings  !" 

"  One  blast  upon  his  bugle-horn 
Could  start  a  thousand  men  1" 

How  piteously  they  would  plead  to  be  let  alone  ! 
Ski  would  then  kindly  tell  them  he  knew  they  were 
cowards;  that  brave  men  were  always  men  of  sense, 
and  knew  how  to  behave  themselves  when  they 
came  to  talk  to  the  spirits. 

Many  persons  have  been  profited  by  the  lessons 
taught  them  by  "old  Ski,"  and  will  not  forget  him 
easily,      Fred  Douglass  said,  when  Henry  Ward 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  289 

Beecher's  defection  from  the  abolition  party  oc- 
curred, and  he  had  given  in  his  adherence  to  the 
policy  of  Andrew  Johnson,  ''  If  I  had  Beecher  on  a 
plantation,  and  he  was  my  nigger,  and  I  was  his 
master,  I  could,  with  a  good  limber  raw-hide  make 
him  change  back  his  opinions  in  twenty  minutes."  I 
believe  Douglass;  arid  so  does  "old  Ski."  If  the  raps 
fail  to  interest  you,  do  n't  go  to  sleep  ;  for  ''  Ski  "  has 
the  horn.  He  will  be  very  likely  to  disturb  your 
**nap,"  by  gently  tapping  your  bump  of  veneration. 
He  don't  intend  to  hurt  you,  but  simply  to  let  you 
know  that  he  is  a  phrenologist  at  times  ;  and  when  he 
fails  to  find  the  bump  of  politeness  on  your  cranium, 
he  makes  one  with  the  big  end  of  the  ''horn,"  you 
know !  But,  not  to  have  a  wrong  impression  enter- 
tained of  ''Skiwaukee,"  I  declare  him  to  be  ''y^  most 
gentle  savage ;"  and,  in  all  that  appertains  to  the 
quality  of  true  manhood,  the  elements  are  so  mixed 
in  him  that  we  honor  ourselves  when  we  call  him 
brother  ! 

A  little  spirit-child,  ''Anna  Hancock,"  a  niece 
of  Major-General  W.  S.  Hancock,  United  States 
Army,  cut,  fashioned,  and  made,  in  a  dark  circle,  a 
beautiful  rosette,  out  of  material  which  was  taken  into 
the  dark  room  for  the  purpose;  and,  after  its  com- 
pletion, pinned  it  nicely  on  the  lapel  of  my  coat, 
frequently  touching  my  face;  with  her  little  delicate 
fingers  while  doing  so.  In  making  this  rosette,  it 
was  necessary  to  thread  a  needle  with  silk,  and  to 
stitch  the  fabric  in  a  pitch-dark  room.  This  child 
subsequently  made  a  nice  little  doll-baby  from  ma- 
terials placed  in  the  room,  which  has  excited  the  admi- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


290  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

ration  and  wonder  of  many  ladies.  She  also  made 
a  regalia  of  rosettes,  and  hung  them  about  my  neck. 
Being  only  six  years  old,  including  both  her  natural 
and  spirit  life,  I  asked  her  who  had  taught  her  to  do 
these  things,  when  she  replied,  ''Miss  Josephine  and 
grandmother  ;"  meaning  Josephine  Bonaparte  and  my 
own  mother.  She  thought  to  please  me  by  calling 
her  doll  *'Neppy."  I  have  already  intimated  that  the 
sense  of  touch  sometimes  leaves  the  imprint  of  spirit- 
fingers  on  your  arm,  which  is  sufficient  to  carry  con- 
viction, to  the  understanding  of  some  people,  that  they 
have  uncommon  power  in  that  way. 

Carrying  the  horn  about  the  room  is  mere  child's- 
play  for  them.  It  don't  amount  to  any  thing  as  an 
achievement,  especially  when  compared  to  the  feat 
of  carrying  the  music-box,  which  they  have  frequently 
done.  It  weighs  twenty-three  pounds,  eight  ounces. 
*'Ski"  will  take  this  box,  and  float  it  about  the  room 
with  wonderful  rapidity,  frequently  a  distance  of 
twenty  feet  almost  as  quick  as  you  can  wink  your 
eyes..  This  is  always  done  when  the  music  is  play- 
ing, which  serves  to  guide  the  mind  to  the  locality  of 
the  box.  It  is  quite  interesting  to  listen  to  the  transi- 
tive tones  of  this  floating  orchestra.  Upon  one  oc- 
casion, the  music  stopped  while  the  box  was  in  transit, 
and  the  wonder  was  where  it  would  be  found  when 
the  light  was  introduced.  It  was  found  half  under 
my  chair  and  between  my  feet.  The  room  was  pitch- 
dark,  of  course.  On  another  occasion,  we  had  failed 
to  throw  a  red  blanket  over  the  chair  of  the  medium. 
This  blanket  the  old  chief  claimed  as  his  personal 
property,  and  its  absence  gave  great  offense  to  "  Ski," 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


291 


who  still  retains  his  love  and  admiration  for  a  "red 
article."  He  said  it  gave  him  strength,  power  to 
speak  and  act ;  besides,  it  was  grateful  to  his  feelings. 
He  loved  the  red  blanket.  There  was  no  excuse  for 
not  putting  it  in  its  wonted  place,  but  carelessness. 
This  put  him  in  ill-humor,  and  a  rampage  was  the 
consequence.  In  the  room  was  a  chest  of  drawers 
and  a  wardrobe,  both  of  which  were  filled  with  sheets, 
piCow-slips,  unseasonable  clothing,  table-linen,  and 
other  store-away  things.  He  started  on  a  hunt  for 
his  blanket.  He  commenced  ransacking  the  bureau 
at  the  top  drawer,  and  ending  with  the  bottom. 
Things  flew  through  the  room  like  frightened  pigeons, 
.  here  and  there  and  every-where,  until  the  drawers 
were  empty.  He  next  went  for  the  wardrobe,  and 
gave  it  such  an  overhauling  as  it  never  had  before, 
and  will  hardly  ever  get  again.  At  last,  almost  on 
the  very  bottom  of  the  shelf  was  found  the  much- 
prized  article — the  red  blanket.  The  success  of  the 
search  was  pronounced  with  a  guttural  grunt,  **  Got 
'em!"  It  was  not  loud,  but  deep.  "Ski"  was  mad — 
mad  as  a  "  March  hare" — and  not  to  be  trifled  with  in 
that  way,  much.  When  the  light  was  brought  in,  the 
room  was  found  to  be  littered  with  the  contents  of 
the  drawers  and  wardrobe ;  and,  what  I  have  over- 
looked until  now,  the  furniture  of  a  wash-stand  occu- 
pied a  prominent  place  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 
He  had  given  us  a  splendid  display  of  his  power  and 
wrath;  though  that,  I  believe,  was  not  the  actuating 
motive.  "  Ski"  will  not  wear  zvings  for  some  time  yet. 
But  the  most  marvelous  manifestation  of  power 
in  the  dark  circle  is  yet  to  be  noticed.     There  were 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


292  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

five  persons  in  the  room,  including  the  medium. 
The  conditions  were  unusually  good.  No  public 
seance  had  been  given  for  several  days.  The  medium 
was  rested.  The  seance  I  am  about  to  notice  was 
attended  only  by  the  several  members  of  my  family. 

As  soon  as  the  room  was  darkened,  *' the  birds 
began  to  sing!"  I  never  heard  such  singing— the 
many  voices  blending  in  perfect  harmony/clear,  loud, 
musical,  and  bewitching.  It  was  a  love-feast  of  ce- 
lestial melody,  which  we,  one  and  all,  enjoyed  to  the 
full  capacity  of  our  appreciation.  This  charming 
concert  continued  about  twenty  minutes,  unassisted 
by  a  human  voice,  until  it  suddenly  ceased,  and  Mrs. 
Hollis  seemed  to  be  surrounded  by  a  multitude  of 
spirit-voices,  speaking  quick,  confusedly,  and  in  an 
undertone.  I  could  not  comprehend  what  was  being 
said  ;  neither  could  Mrs.  Hollis,  who  became  alarmed, 
and  asked  me  what  they  intended  to  do.  I  quieted 
her  fears,  v/ith  assurances  that  whatever  they  did,  no 
harm  would  inure  to  her — to  keep  quiet,  and  offer  no 
resistance  to  their  will.  What  next  transpired,  I  will 
copy  from  my  note-book  : 

"•  A  spirit-voice  began  to  chant  a  part  of  the  Epis- 
copal service,  and  then  improvised  a  rhapsody  that 
was  indescribably  sweet  and  beautiful.  This  musical 
manifestation  continued  about  ten  minutes,  during 
which  time  we  commented  freely  upon  the  quality  of 
the  voice.  The  singing  had  but  scarcely  ceased, 
when  an  indescribable  sound,  resembling  that  which 
is  made  by  a  startled  flock  of  birds,  was  heard,  and 
coinstantiai  Mrs.  Hollis,  affrighted,  was  heard  over 
our  heads,  floating  along  the  ceiling  of  the  room!     She 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN.  SPIRITUALISM,  293 

pleaded  piteously  to  be  let  down!  ''Don't  let  me 
fall!  Please  dont  hurt  me!  O,  do  let  me  down! 
Please  let  me  down!"  This  aerial  flight  continued 
only  for  a  minute,  during  which  time  I  ordered  her 
to  clap  her  hands  against  the  ceiling,  and  mark  the 
wall  with  the  pencil  she  had  in  her  hand  ;  all  of 
which  she  di3.  She  no  sooner  touched  the  carpet 
than  she  sprang  forward  into  the  arms  of  one  of  the 
ladies,  begging  us  not  to  permit  the  spirits  to  carry 
her  up  again.  Several  efforts  of  this  kind  had  been 
previously  made,  but  never  with  such  success.  It 
always  frightened  her,  notwithstanding  she  felt  assured 
no  harm  would  befall  her.  Ordinarily  she  was  a 
courageous  woman,  but  this  lifting  unnerved  her. 

''I  can  not  tell,  Mrs.  Hollis,"  I  said,  "what  object 
they  have  in  view,  in  levitating  you  in  this  manner  ; 
still  I  feel  assured  they  will  not  injure  you."  As  I 
said  this,  Jim  Nolan  spoke  in  a  more  than  usually 
sympathetic  voice,  saying  : 

**Why,  Doctor,  we  could  not  be  induced  to  hurt 
our  medium.  She  is  to  us  as  precious  as  your  eye  to 
you,  always  an  object  of  our  deepest  sympathy  and 
most  tender  care.  What  could  we  do  without  her? 
If  she  zvere  lost  to  us,  we  cottld  not  replace  her  among  a 
million  of  zvoinen!' 

''But,  Jim,  what's  the  use  of  this  manifestation.? 
If  it  is  only  pastime,  you  ask  her  to  make  too  much 
sacrifice  for  your  pleasure." 

"We  seek  to  show  our  power,  and,  by  that  means, 
convince  of  our  presence.  We  could  float  her  like 
a  feather,  if  she  were  entranced.  But  to  this  she 
objects  ;  and  we  prefer  to  float  her   while  she  is  in 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


294  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

the  full  possession  of  her  faculties.  If  she  would  sub- 
mit to  our  wishes,  we  could  in  six  weeks  carry  her 
over  the  heads  of  an  audience  in  good  light,  to  be 
seen  by  all,  while  she  held  conversation  with  the 
spectators.  O  no!  we  will  do  her  no  injury,  nor  will 
we  permit  harm  to  come  to  her.  We  guide  her  foot- 
steps, and  guard  them  from  peril.  We  know  her 
every  wish,  and  seek,  when  it  is  proper,  to  gratify 
them." 

"  But,  Jim,  why  do  you  permit  her  to  suffer  so 
much  with  terror,  when  you  lift  her }  A  fancied 
danger  causes  as  much  mental  suffering  as  a  real 
peril.  Imagination  can  kill  or  cure,  as  its  power  may 
be  directed," 

"It  is  not  from  apprehension  of  personal  harm 
that  her  terrors  arise,  but  from  the  peculiar  condition 
of  her  mind,  after  depriving  her  physical  system  of 
its  magnetic  relation  to  the  brain.  In  this  de-mag- 
netized condition  of  the  body,  the  will-power  becomes 
abeyant,  when  the  faculties  of  the  soul,  alarmed  and 
disordered,  start  up  as  in  a  hideous  dream.  We 
want  gradually  to  overcome  this  condition ;  we  will 
then  be  able  to  lift  and  float  her  at  pleasure." 

"But  why,"  I  interposed,  "do  you  disturb  this 
magnetic  relation  of  the  brain  to  the  body,  when 
the  consequences  of  doing  so  will  plainly  thwart  your 
efforts  and  distress  the  medium.?" 

"  We  can  not  succeed  without  doing  this  !  Besides, 
the  distress  is  not  real,"  he  replied  ;  "the  panic  is 
unpleasant,  but  it  passes  away  as  soon  as  the  mag- 
netic relation  of  the  brain  to  the  body  is  re-established. 
By   intercepting    this    magnetic    relation,   the  body 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  29S 

becomes  more  buoyant,  and  if  completely  broken  off, 
the  spiritual  forces  would  express  themselves  with 
such  power,  that  its  avoirdupois  would  be  almost 
destroyed.  It  would  '  take  to  itself  wings  and  flee 
away/" 

''  Do  you  mean  literal  'wings,  such  as  Raphael's 
cherubs  have?" 

*^  O  no  !  I  only  wish  to  symbolize  the  celerity  of 
spirit-action,  when  not  harnessed  in  the  service  of 
human  magnetism." 

Before  the  conclusion  of  the  seance^  Mrs.  Mollis 
was  again  lifted  to  the  ceiling,  and  floated  through 
the  room.  She  made  pencil-marks  on  different  parts 
of  the  plaster,  indicating  the  direction  of  her  aerial 
movements.  When  the  light  was  restored,  the  pencil 
and  right-hand  were  covered  with  lime-dust,  as  well 
as  the  sleeve  of  her  dress. 

Though  the  name  "  dark  circle  "  conveys  the  idea 
of  entire  obscurity  from  sight,  this  impression  is 
erroneous,  as  many  persons  can  testify.  Mrs.  HoUis 
in  the  dark  room  not  only  sees  the  persons  compos- 
ing the  circle,  but  also  the  spirits  manifesting,  whom 
she  describes  with  accuracy,  and  calls  by  name. 
This  power  of  clairvoyance  is  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting studies  in  the  whole  range  of  spirit  phe- 
nomena, and  excites  our  admiration  most  when  we 
give  it  most  thought.  But  few  persons  have  at- 
tempted to  account  for  this  wonderful  clear-sight.  I 
have  my  theory,  and  will  briefly  state  it. 

In  the  anatomical  construction  of  the  human  eye, 
two  chambers  are  necessary  to  perfect  the  visual 
law.     These  are  known  to  anatomists  and  opticians 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


296  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

as  anterior  and  posterior,  or  front  and  back,  cham- 
bers. Tliey  are  filled  with  aqueous,  crystalline,  and 
vitreous  humors,  through  which  a^re  transmitted  images 
upon  the  membranes,  which  serve  as  mirrors  to  reflect 
them  upon  the  sensorium.  These  are  called  the 
sclerotic,  choroid,  and  retina. 

The  uses  of  these  several  organs  are:  first,  to 
reflect  images  along  the  optic  track  to  the  sensorium ; 
and,  second,  to  exchcde  solar  rays,  by  a  process  of 
filtering,  from  entering  the  picture-gallery  of  the  souL 
However  paradoxical  it  may  seem,  we  are  nevertheless 
indebted  to  darkness  for  all  the  pleasure  we  receive 
through  the  sense  of  sight,  I  will  give  a  familiar 
illustration  of  this  proposition.  ^ 

The  camera  obscura  is  fashioned  after  the  structure 
of  the  human  eye.  It  has  its  anterior  and  posterior 
chambers  ;  also  lenses,  to  correspond  to  the  humors 
of  the  eye.  The  posterior  chamber,  in  both  cases,  is 
dark.  Over  the  back  wall  of  the  back  chamber  of 
the  eye  is  spread  a  dark-colored  secretion,  through 
which  the  almost  invisible  fibers  of  the  optic  nerve  are 
woven.  This  finds  its  correspondence  in  the  sensi- 
tized plate  of  the  photographer.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  trace  strictly  the  analogy  of  structure  any  farther; 
so  we  will  present  the  more  interesting  details  of 
the  phenomena. 

Artists  tone  down  the  light  while  a  picture  is 
being  taken.  So  the  circular  band  of  muscles  which 
forms  the  pupil  of  the  eye  contracts  and  tones 
down  the  light  on  the  first  lens,  that  it  may  be  al- 
most or  entirely  lost  on  the  second,  leaving  the 
background   black.      Hence,   darkness  is  an   absolute 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  297 

condition  of  vision.  Solar  rays  falling  in  a  direct 
vertical  line  upon  the  sensitized  retina  of  the  €3^0, 
would  destroy  its  quality,  and  paralyze  it  forever.  The 
action  of  the  sun  upon  the  whole  structure  of  the 
eye  is  to  lessen  rather  than  augment  its  power. 

The  converse  of  this  proposition  is  equally  true. 
In  the  absence  of  solar  rays  the  integuments  of  the 
eye  become  so  highly  sensitized,  that  they  develop  a 
more  perfect  luminous  condition  than  they  can  in 
the  face  of  day.  Thus  the  dark  room  becomes  to  the 
eye  what  the  dark  tube  of  the  microscope  becomes  to 
sight,  an  augmenting  power  which  reveals  the  won- 
derful phenomena  of  millions  of  creatures  in  a  dew- 
drop.  The  telescope,  in  like  manner,  with  its  lenses 
and  </^r/^  chamber,  assists  the  eye  to  penetrate  space 
so  remote,  that  the  added  power  makes  the  senses 
ache.  Telescope  the  earth,  and  from  the  bottom  of 
a  well  you  may  see  stars  at  the  high  noon  of  day. 

To  sit  in  a  dark  room  several  hours  every  day, 
for  a  year,  the  humors  and  attachments  of  the  eye 
become  so  sensitive  to  light,  that  their  sensibility 
becomes  painfully  acute.  But  sit  in  a  dark  room  for 
only  one  hour,  once  or  twice  a  week,  for  six  months, 
and  what  will  be  the  effect  on  the  optic  structure.^ 
The  testimony  of  those  who  have  patiently  put  them- 
selves under  such  a  discipline  is  to  the  effect  that 
darkness  at  first  makes  the  whole  nervous  system 
excitable,  and  the  effect  is  quite  painful.  But  after  a 
while,  the  system  becomes  tranquil,  when  the  brain 
begins  to  idealize  most  vividly.  Between  ''dream- 
ing and  waking,"  the  room  grows  light,  the  outlines 
of  furniture,  and  at  length  the  face  of  ''  the  old  clock," 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


298  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

can  be  distinctly  seen.  Persevere  in  the  dark  baths, 
and  not  only  will  the  dark  room  become  light,  but, 
under  the  scrutiny  of  the  new  vision,  the  human  form 
becomes  transparent  as  glass,  with  the  action  of  every 
organ  in  its  complex  structure  distinctly  appreciated. 
The  brain,  heart,  arteries,  and  glands  are  seen,  brill- 
iant with  flames  of  life,  and  more  beautiful  than 
auroral  splendors.  But  now  '*the  wonder  of  wonders" 
is  revealed!  Intangible,  incomprehensible  space  be- 
comes peopled  with  living  forms.  Be  calm,  and  the 
faces  of  old  friends  will  be  seen,  and  their  voices  will 
again  be  heard.  Thus  the  spiritual  sense  of  hearing 
and  seeing  become  unfolded,  and  thus  a  latent  power 
we  little  thought  belonged  to  us,  disclosed.  But  to 
return  to  the  phenomena  of  the  dark  room. 

You  may  test  the  clairvoyant  powers  of '' old  Ski" 
or  Jim  Nolan — but  especially  the  former — by  holding 
in  your  hand,  in  a  dark  circle,  any  article  you  may 
wish,  and  ask  him  to  name  it.  He  will  do  it,  if  he  is 
at  all  familiar  with  its  name  or  use,  thereby  proving 
conclusively  that,  in  the  entire  absence  of  light,  the 
power  of  vision  remains  good.  A  lady,  who  thought 
to  please  ''  Ski,"  promised  to  present  him  with  a  fine 
red  feather,  designating  an  ostrich  plume  as  the  gift. 
*'Ski"  was  much  pleased,  and  reminded  her  several 
times,  during  the  evening,  of  the  promise  she  had 
made.  She  forgot  all  about  it  when  she  next  visited 
the  dark  circle,  but  ''  Ski"  had  not.  She  was  severely 
reprimanded  for  her  neglect,  the  old  chief  saying, 
''  Em  squaw  lie  !"  She  pleaded  forgetfulness,  but 
promised  not  to  forget  again.  She  brought  the  feather 
the  next,  visit,  but  made  no  allusion  to  the  fact,  not 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  299 

even  after  she  entered  the  dark  room.  She  now  quietly 
placed  the  feather  in  her  hair,  and  while  in  the  act, 
/'Ski"  gave  a  shout:  "Em  squaw  bring  em!  em 
nice  squaw !"  But,  alas  for  the  short-lived  reputa- 
tion of  the  squaw!  when  "Ski"  gave  a  closer  in- 
spection to  the  article,  he  discovered  a  fraud,  and 
felt  indignant  at  the  deceit.  He  scornfully  rejected 
the  gift,  saying:  "Squaw  bring  em  old  chicken- 
feather !  Do  n't  want  em  old  chicken~i^2X\\Q,x !  old 
chicken-feather  squav^ !"  He  had  made  an  intelligent 
discrimination  between  an  ostrich-plume  and  a  very 
beautiful  chicken-feather  of  his  favorite  bright-red 
color,  in  the  dark,  to  the  surprise  and  merriment 
of  every  one  present.  But  mark  the  feeling  he  dis- 
played !  He  will  also  tell  the  exact  time  by  your 
watch,  or,  as  stated,  name  any  article  of  dress  or 
toilet  you  may  call  his  attention  to,  in  the  blackest 
atmosphere. 

Marshal  Ney  wrote  to  me  at  the  table,  that  if  I 
would  sit  in  a  dark  room  with  the  medium,  for  three 
or  four  mornings,  he  thought  he  would  be  able  to 
draw  a  picture,  while  I  held  the  medium's  hands. 
Of  course  I  consented  ;  and,  procuring  the  necessary 
paper  and  pencils,  Mrs.  Hollis  and  I  took  position 
beside  a  table  in  the  dark  room,  on  which  the  articles 
lay,  I  taking  her  hands  in  mine.  The  sitting  con- 
tinued half  an  hour  or  more,  but  with  no  other  result 
than  a  few  straggling  marks.  Three  trials  were  given 
on  three  consecutive  mornings,  but  with  very  little 
better  success.  On  the  fourth  morning,  we  had  re- 
sumed our  usual  position  but  a  few  minutes,  when  we 
could  distinctly  hear   the  pencils  moving  rapidly  over 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


300      '  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  paper.  In  half  an  hour  after  the  light  had  been 
extinguished,  the  signal  was  given  that  the  seance  was 
closed.  The  room  was  again  lighted,  when  the  ac- 
companying picture  was  found  to  have  been  drawn 
during  the  time  we  had  sat  in  the  dark.  (See  next 
page.)  As  a  work  of  art,  this  picture  has  no  merit 
whatever.  If  it  symbolizes  any  occult  idea,  it  is  quite 
valueless  to  me.  '  I  am  told  some  of  the  emblems 
belong  to  Masonry.  I  have  no  knowledge  of  this — 
am  not  a  Mason,  and  believe  Mrs.  HoUis  is  not— but 
the  picture  is  interesting  when  viewed  as  a  spirit 
production,  and  as  being  executed  in  a  dark  room. 

But  spirit  conversations  are  the  most  interesting 
features  of  the  dark  circles.  I  have  already  spoken 
of  these,  and  reported  interviews  which  I  had  with 
my  mother,  Jim  Nolan,  Josephine,  Marshal  Ney,  and 
others.  The  reader,  however,  may  want  more  exact 
information  in  regard  to  their  occurrence. 

When  persons  first  visit  the  dark  room,  especially 
if  there  are  strong  influences  antagonizing  their  power, 
the  spirits  are  unable  to  talk  for  some  time.  Those 
who  belong  to  Mrs.  Hollis's  band  can  speak  freely 
almost  from  the  moment  the  singing  ceases ;  but  your 
own  friends  require  more  time  to  master  the  situation. 
What  difficulties  they  have  to  surmount  before  they 
can  manifest,  I  have  already  hinted;  but  this  subject, 
I  am  well  convinced,  is  but  little  understood.  The 
spirit  of  a  person  who  died  with  a  lingering  disease,  in 
whom  the  strength  gradually  wasted  before  death,  I 
have  observed,  exhibits  a  voice  so  feeble  as  almost  to 
be  indistinct.  The  victims  of  pulmonary  phthisis  ex- 
perience the  same  feebleness  and  difficulty  in  talking 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALTSM. 


301 


JimMi 


28 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


302  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

that  they  had  before  passing  into  the  spirit-world. 
I  have  heard  them  cough,  to  remove  what  seemed  to 
me  secretions  from  the  air-tubes,  that  they  might  be 
enabled  to  speak  more  distinctly.  They  often  allude 
to  this  disability,  and  deplore  their  want  of  strength 
with  sincere  regret.  To  my  questionings  they  reply 
that  it  is  only  when  they  come  into  the  circle-room 
that  they  feel  the  infirmities  of  the  body-life  ;  and 
this  only  at  the  beginning  of  their  visits. 

The  gradual  increase  of  power  to  talk  is  quite 
noticeable  as  they  appear  from  time  to  time.  They 
get  accustomed  to  the  situation,  and,  like  old  hands  at 
the  business,  can  "hew  close  to  the  line"  without 
making  mistakes. 

The  spirits  forming  the  band  that  controls  Mrs. 
HoUis's  circle,  of  course  speak  without  impediment, 
loudly  and  distinctly.  Jim  Nolan  has  spoken  to  me 
two  hours  without  exhibiting  the  least  symptom  of 
fatigue  or  exhaustion.  He  never  grows  weary  ;  his 
endurance  would  sustain  him  for  a  month,  if  the 
medium  could  supply  the  requisite  power.  Jim  Nolan 
speaks  loud  enough  to  he  heard  distinctly  in  every 
part  of  the  largest  public  hall  in  the  city  of  Cincin- 
nati, and  when  I  say  he  could  entertain  as  many 
thinkers  as  could  be  seated  in  the  hall,  with  his 
grand  ideas  and  compact  reasoning,  I  but  iterate  a 
fact  that  is  well  known  to  hundreds  of  the  best  minds 
of  our  country,  who  have  been  amazed  at  the  splendor 
and  rapidity  of  his  thought,  the  profundity  of  his 
logic,  and  the  grandeur  of  his  eloquence. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  303 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

CABINET  FOR  THE  SPIRITS— EXCITEMENT  IN  HADES-- 
WONDERFUL  PHENOMENA  — MY  MOTHER'S  FACE, 
HAND,  AND  VOICE—FACE  OF  THE  EMPRESS  JOSEPH- 
INE—SPIRIT-FLOWERS-SPIRIT PLAYS  THE  HARP- 
MARSHAL  NEY  IN  UNIFORM,  MATERIALIZED. 

I  ^HE  extraordinary  manifestations  I  am  about  to 
JL  record  began  on  the  25th  of  May,  1872.  The 
time  was  near  the  close  of  Mrs,  Holiis's  third  engage- 
ment, I  spoke  to  Mrs.  Hollis  several  times  about 
constructing  a  cabinet — something  similar  to  the  one 
used  by  the  Davenport  Brothers,  in  giving  their  pubHc 
exhibitions—simply  as  an  experiment ;  but  she  seemed 
to  think  the  results  would  be  an  expensive  disappoint- 
ment Hence,  she  advised  against  it.  Nolan  and 
Ney  took  similar  views  ;  and  Josephine  gave  timid 
counsel— not  committing  herself  either  for  or  against 
the  experiment,  I  had  no  alternative  but  to  back 
down  or  go  ahead,  and  I  could  n't  back  down. 

Accordingl}^,  I  gave  my  idea  of  a  cabinet  to  Mr, 
John  H.  Brown,  a  well-known  mechanic  on  Third 
Street,  near  Central  Avenue,  with  an  order  to  ma- 
terialize it  as  soon  as  possible.  He  did  this  to  my 
satisfaction,  and  brought  it  to  my  house,  and  placed 
it  in  the  center  room,  on  the  second  floor  of  my 
rear  dwelling.      The  following  diagram  will  show  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


304 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


position  of  the  room  and  cabinet,  where  the  manifesta- 
tions occurred : 

North  blank  wall— 36  feet. 


West  Room. 


Cabinet. 


East  Room. 


-[K]-^ 1 ^ [E] [E]- 


[[  I  II  II  li  II  I!  il  H  I  ss  I  ss  I  I 


J 


A.  West  rooni,  used  as  reception-room.  1'.  Consuhing-roorn,  in  which  the  cab- 
inet was  j)laced.  C  l^asl  room;  office  for  writing,  etc.  J).  Mntrance  doorways  to 
cabinet-room,  vvitli  transonj  ligiits.  o  o  o.  Tlie  position  of  cliairs  for  spectators  wlien 
witnessing  spirit  manifestations.  E  l*'.  E.  J)o(n-vvays.  H  H.  Halls.  SS.  Stairways 
from  first  floor.     VV  VV,  Windows.     Q.  JNIusicbox. 

The  cabinet  is  fairly  represented  by  any  ordinary 
full-sized  wardrobe,  six  feet  high,  five  feet  wide,  and 
two  feet  deep.  The  back  and  two  ends  were  factory- 
planed  one-inch  pine  boai'ds,  tongned  and  grooved. 
The  front  had  but  one  door,  three  and  a  half  feet 
wide;  in  length,  the  whole  height  of  the  cabinet.  In 
the  center  of  the  door,  about  four  and  a  half  feet  from 
the  bottom,  was  cut  a  diamond-shaped  hole,  about 
eight  inches  in  longest  diameter.  This  aperture  was 
covered  on  the  inside  by  a  thick  piece  of  cloth  fast- 
ened over  the  top,  and  permitted  to  hang  down  loose 
over  the  opening,  and  several  inches  below  it,  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  effectually  exclude  the  light  from  the 
interior  of  the  cabinet.  In  the  cabinet  was  placed  a 
chair  for  Mrs.  Hollis.  This  completes  the  appoint- 
ments of  this  much-talked-of  structure. 

Mrs.    Hollis    entered    this   little    dark   room — for 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  305 

that  is  all  it  really  is— on  the  2Sth  of  May,  1872,  for 
the  first  time,  in  the  presence  of  myself  and  two  lady 
members  of  my  family.  I  closed  the  door,  and  she 
fastened  it  on  the  inside  with  a  wood-button.  Her 
exclamation  was,  *' How  very  dark!"  After  beino- 
seated  a  few  miiuites,  she  asked  me  to  sing.  I  began 
to  choral  the  "  Old  Folks  at  Home  :" 

"Away  down  on  the  Swanee  river." 

But  before  I  had  proceeded  far,  there  was  a  regular 
plantation  racket  in  the  cabinet,  which  convinced  me 
''the  old  folks"  were  not  '*at  home,"  but  the  young 
folks  were  having  a  'Miigh  old  time"  in  their  absence. 
My  first  impression  was,  that  Mrs.  Hollis  had  gone 
daft;  and  the  impulse  to  tear  the  door  away,  to  liberate 
her  from  her  insane  asylum,  was  very  strong.  In  the 
din,  however,  I  could  hear  her  speak  ;  so  I  bated  my 
zeal  to  demolish  until  I  had  more  evidence  of  its 
necessity.  The  f^^ict  is,  I  expected  to  see  that  cabinet 
fall  to  pieces  ;  for  it  was  banged,  and  pounded,  and 
shaken,  with  an  uproar  and  confusion  of  noises,  from 
every  part  of  it,  that  was  startling  and  dreadful  to 
hear.  There  could  not  have  been  less  than  half  a 
dozen  spirits  hard  at  work  in  that  cabinet,  for  Mi^^w 
minutes;  and  yet  not  half  so  many  could  get  into  it, 
had  they  been  in  the  form.  The  racket  continued 
about  twenty  minutes,  when  a  lull  occurred,  and  Mrs. 
Hollis  came  out.  Under  the  closest  scrutiny,  I  could 
not  discover  the  least  excitement  in  her  face,  or  any 
evidence  that  she  had  been  at  work.  She  seemed 
rather  languid,  and  looked  pale. 

*'  Did  you  ever  hear  such  a  confusion  !"  she  said  ; 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


306  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

^'  the  cabinet  was  full  of  spirits,  and  they  were  wild 
with  excitement !" 

"  Could  you  see  them  distinctly  ?"  I  asked. 

^'  No  :  they  were  more  like  shadows.  I  could  only 
get  glimpses  of  them  occasionally." 

"  Was  Ski  among  them  ?" 

**  Yes :  he  stood  beside  me,  and  told  me  not  to  be 
afraid,  I  would  not  be  hurt." 

**  And  did  you  have  no  fear,  Mrs.  Hollis  ?  It  was 
almost  terrifying.  I  thought  the  cabinet  would  be 
battered  down  about  your  head." 

.''At  first  I  was  afraid  they  would  hurt  me;  but 
the  old  chiefs  assurance  satisfied  me  all  was  right." 

**Will  you  go  in  again?" 

*'  If  you  desire  me." 

**Why,  certainly;  but  I  hope  the  spirits  will  be 
less  violent  in  their  demonstrations.  They  'out- 
banged  Bannegar/ '' 

Mrs.  Hollis  again  entered  the  cabinet,  and  the 
door  was  closed.  I  assured  her  the  cabinet  was  a 
nice  place  to  sit  in,  and  entirely  free  from  danger. 
"  It's  all  right ;  only  be  cheerful ;  be  happy  if  you 
can;  good-bye!"  I  said,  as  I  shut  the  door.  I  ex- 
pected, of  course,  a  re-enactment  of  the  first  sit- 
ting ;  but  fifteen  minutes  elapsed  without  giving  the 
slightest  symptom  of  any  occurrence  appreciable  to 
our  senses.  I  was-  on  the  point  of  starting  in  on 
the  ''Last  Rose  of  Summer,"  when  a  noise  in  the 
cabinet  began  to  attract  my  attention.  This  gradually 
increased,  until  it  seemed  as  if  two  or  three  carpenters 
were  at  work  sand-papering  the  inside  of  the  cabinet. 
This  continued  about  five  minutes,  when  there  was  a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  307 

slight  motion  to  the  cloth  over  the  aperture  in  the 
door,  which  increased,  until  finally  it  was  pushed  aside, 
and  a  large  brown  hand  was  projected  through  it.  It 
remained  in  view  about  twenty  seconds.  I  called  to 
Mrs.  Hollis  as  much  to  ascertain  her  position  as  to 
inquire  if  she  saw  the  hand.  She  replied  from  her 
place:  ''  I  can  only  see  a  haze  about  the  aperture.  I 
can  hear  spirits  talking,  but  can  not  see  any." 

The  hand  was  not  like  Mrs.  HoUis's  ;  and  while  I 
was  speculating  as  to  whom  the  proprietor  might  be, 
it  was  withdrawn,  and  tzvo  little  hands,  such  as 
might  belong  to  a  child  two  or  three  years  old, 
were  quickly  presented.  While  looking  at  these,  a 
third  hand — the  same  large  brown  hand — appeared 
the  second  time,  and  seemed  to  hover  above  them, 
^'keeping  watch  and  ward"  over  these  helpless  ones. 
This  concluded  the  first  of  Mrs.  Hollis's  cabinet  seances. 
It  was  held  in  the  evening. 

On  the  following  morning,  we  again  visited  the 
cabinet  room,  bringing  the  music-box.  This  I  placed 
on  a  little  stand,  and  set  to  playing.  It  was  a  de- 
cided improvement  on  my  vocalization,  and  it  so 
seemed  to  the  spirits ;  for  Mrs.  Hollis  had  entered  the 
cabinet  but  a  few  minutes,  when  they  began  to  play  a 
nib-a-dub  accompaniment  on  the  boards,  the  noise 
sounding  as  if  made  by  muffled  drumsticks.  After 
they  had  ceased,  a  peculiar,  sharp,  explosive  noise,  as 
when  a  table-cloth  is  shaken  violently,  was  heard 
for  a  few  seconds.  Then  of  a  sudden  a  yard  and  a 
half  of  Brussels  carpet,  which  had  been  placed  on 
the  floor  of  the  cabinet,  rolled  tightly,  was  shot 
swiftly  through  the  aperture  into  the  middle  of   the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


3o8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

room.  I  should  have  premised,  when  Mrs.  Hollls 
entered  the  cabinet,  I  placed  with  her  a  small  tin 
horn,  a  French  harp,  and  a  bunch  of  flowers.  These 
were  ejected  in  quick  succession  after  the  carpet. 
Wondering  what  next  would  come,  the  curtain  was 
suddenly  drawn  aside,  when  through  the  aperture 
was  projected  into  the  room,  the  long,  muscular  naked 
arm  of  a  man.  It  was  of  full  length,  the  shoulder 
articulation  being  exposed  to  view.  The  hand,  when 
it  first  appeared,  was  closed,  but  it  opened  and  shut 
often ;  and,  when  doing  so,  the  muscles  were  seen 
to  enlarge  and  lessen  in  the  fore-arm.  The  elbow  ar- 
ticulated freely,  flexing  and  extending  with  apparent 
ease  ;  and  the  arm  swung  around,  reaching  over  the 
top  of  the  cabinet.  From  the  development  of  that 
arm,  I  sliould  think  it  belonged  to  a  man  not  less  than 
six  feet  in  height.  I  looked  at  it  closely,  and  was  not 
more  than  six  feet  distant  from  it.  When  this  arm 
was  withdrawn,  Mrs.  Hollis  came  out  of  the  cabinet 
for  recuperation.  As  on  the  day  before,  she  seemed  to 
be  exhausted  of  her  vitality  ;  her  face  was  pale,  and 
she  complained  of  languor.  In  reply  to  my  inquiries, 
she  said  she  could  see  nothing  but  a  hazy  atmosphere 
about  the  aperture  of  the  cabinet,  when  the  cloth 
would  be  pushed  aside ;  and,  though  she  could  hear 
distinctly  the  spirits  talking,  she  could  not  discern 
them. 

Subsequently,  I  asked  Jim  Nolan  to  explain  to  me 
the  condition  of  the  medium  when  in  the  cabinet, 
wliich  he  did,  to  this  effect:  ''The  medium,"  he  said, 
**  had  a  horror  of  being  entranced  ;  so  we  permit  all 
her  faculties    to  remain  uninfluenced,  excepting    her 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


309 


sight.  We  influence  the  optic-nerve  during  the  time, 
so  that  no  impressions  of  the  eye  are  transmitted  to 
the  sensorium.  Examine  the  pupils  of  her  eyes  as 
soon  as  she  leaves  the  cabinet  ;  they  will  be  found 
preternaturally  large  and  morbidly  sensitive. 

''  Why  do  you  make  this  discrimination  against  or 
in  favor  (which  ?)  of  the  optic-nerve .?" 

**It  is  necessary  that  the  medium  be  perfectly 
calm  while  we  materialize  the  arms  and  hands.  If 
she  could  see,  she  would  not  maintain  this  passive 
condition.  Music  has  a  tendency  to  tranquillity  ; 
that  is  why  we  desire  it." 

Observing  the  dexterity  of  the  arm,  hand,  and 
fingers  that  were  projected  through  the  aperture,  it 
occurred  to  me  that  there  might  be  sufficient  intelli- 
gence guiding  them  to  write  a  letter.  Up  to  this 
time,  spirit-writing  had  all  been  done  in  the  dark. 
Here,  now,  was  the  hand  and  arm  exposed — could t key 
write  in  the  light  ?  I  '11  soon  ascertain.  I  procured 
a  large  walnut  bracket,  and  fastened  it  on  the  outside 
of  the  cabinet-door,  so  that  the  top  was  an  inch  or 
two  under  the  aperture.  On  this  I  placed  a  slate  and 
pencil,  and,  as  soon  as  the  arrangement  was  com- 
pleted, Mrs.  Mollis  entered  the  cabinet. 

I  started  the  music-box  to  play,  and  had  scarcely 
resumed  my  seat,  when  the  same  muscular  arm  we 
had  formerly  seen  was  projected,  full  length,  into  the 
room.  There  was  no  noise  this  time  in  the  cabinet 
preceding  the  materialization,  ''  Order,  reigns  in  War- 
saw !"  thought  I.  The  arm  now  swept  almost  the 
entire  front  of  the  cabinet  with  its  reach.  The  fingers 
ran   along  the  little  cornice,  as  if  manipulating  the 

29 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


3IO  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

keys  of  a  piano,  and  continued  to  wander  around  in 
this  manner  for  a  minute  and  a  half,  when  they  picked 
up  the  pencil,  and  proceeded  to  write  as  decorously 
as  though  it  were  a  common  occupation.  While  the 
writing  was  going  on  in  full  view,  I  called  to  Mrs. 
Hollis,  who  made  answer  from  her  remote  part  of 
the  cabinet.  She  did  not  know  what  was  being 
done,  and  reiterated  her  former  statement  that  she 
could  see  nothing  but  the  smoky  atmosphere  at  the 
aperture. 

After  two  minutes,  the  writing  was  completed, 
when  I  took  the  slate  from  the  shelf  and  found  the 
following  communication  upon  it : 

^' God  bless  you,  my  fellow-worker  in  the  cause  of  liberty 
and  truth.  I  greet  you  this  day:  'Well  clone,  thou  good  and 
fiiithful  servant  I'  Work  on;  your  reward  shall  be  great! 
When  the  world  asks,  '  Who  is  your  control  V  tell  them  the 
words  I  said  to  Dumas  long  years  ago,  *  I  am  the  rear  guard 
of  the  Grand  Army  ;'  for  so  it  really  is.  We  are  a  host,  and 
you  shall  have  the  cross  of  honor.  My  voice  never  went  forth 
to  tiie  Grand  Army  of  France,  to  cheer  it  on  to  victory,  as  it 
does  to  you  !  Work  on  !  Be  firm  !  You  are  the  front  of  that 
army,  and  I  the  rear.     It  can  not  fail. 

"  Yours,  in  truth  and  honor, 

^'Michael  Ney.'^ 

This  was  a  singular  communication,  to  be  sure, 
but  entirely  too  personal  for  my  appreciation.  I  could 
not  understand  why  I  should  be  designated  for  such 
distinction,  and  was  not  conscious  that  I  was  at  all 
deserving  of  the  decoration  promised.  I  was,  however, 
much  interested  in  the  fact  that  the  spirit-world  could 
thus  hold  communication  with  the  natural  world ; 
and  I  was  particularly  gratified  with  the  success  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  3 1 1 

the  experiment,  and  as  being  the  first  to  witness  this 
startling  phenomenon. 

I  transcribed  the  message,  and  replaced  the  slate 
for  further  developements.  As  I  was  placing  the 
pencil  on  the  slate,  within  twelve  inches  from  my 
face  three  hands  were  presented  at  the  aperture.  I 
looked  at  them  curiously  and  closely ;  they  were 
strange  hands,  belonging  to  adults  ;  and  on  one  was 
worn  a  large,  plain  gold  ring,  on  the  finger  next  to 
the  Kttle  one  of  the  left  hand.  The  light  was  such 
as  to  enable  me  to  examine  the  texture  of  the  skin. 
They  remained  on  exhibition  about  half  a  minute,  and 
were  then  withdrawn.  I  had  scarcely  resumed  my 
seat,  when  the  large  arm  again  appeared  and  wrote: 

*'We  can  do  no  more  this  morning;  our  medium  is  ex- 
hausted !     We  will  try  to  show  you  a  face  to-morrow. 

"  Very  well,"  I  said,  "you'll  see  me  to-morrow  at 
Philippi  1  Keep  your  engagement,  and  I  will  keep 
mine." 

Punctual  at  the  appointed  time,  our  little  circle 
assembled  in  the  cabinet  room.  As  soon  as  the  music 
started,  Mrs.  Hollis  entered  the  cabinet;  when,  as 
the  door  was  closed,  hands  were  exhibited  at  the 
aperture.  I  should  think  there  were  as  many  as 
ten  materialized,  in  as  many  minutes,  some  of  which 
were  projected  into  the  room,  but  at  least  half  the 
number  retired  after  barely  getting  an  exposure  to 
light.  They  were  single  at  first ;  then  two,  three,  and, 
finally,  five  hands  were  finely  materialized  at  once, 
four  of  which  belonged  to  children.      These  were  all 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


31-2  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

open,  with  the  palms  to  the  front.  The  fifth  hand 
was  large,  and  moved  over  the  tips  of  the  fingers  of 
the  children,  touching  them  gently,  as  I  conjectured, 
to  impart  to  them  strength. 

Mrs.  Hollis  complained  of  exhaustion,  and  took 
a  recess  for  half  an  hour.  So  interested  in  watching 
the  manifestations  was  I,  that  when  she  entered  the 
cabinet  again,  I  neglected  to  start  the  music,  of  which 
fact  I  was  reminded  by  a  spirit  saying,  distinctly,  at 
the  aperture,  ''  Start  the  music  !"  The  table  on  which 
the  music-box  was  placed,  stood  not  more  than  two 
feet  from  the  cabinet.  I  proceeded  to  wind  it  up,  and 
was  just  turning  to  resume  my  seat  in  the  circle,  in 
doing  which  I  had  to  face  the  aperture.  As  I  did 
this,  I  beheld  my  mothers  face  in  the  opening  of  the 
cabinet  door  /" 

"  Why,  mother,"  I  exclaimed,  *Ms  it  possible  !" 

I  riveted  my  gaze  upon  her  for  twenty  seconds, 
during  which  time  she  smiled,  bowed,  and  pronounced 
my  name.  The  curtain  then  swung  between  her  face 
and  me.  All  in  the  room  saw  and  heard  the  same  as 
I  did.  I  was  not  more  than  two  feet  from  the  cabinet 
and  aperture. 

I  am  not  given  to  illusions,  and  rarely  dream 
when  asleep,  much  less  when  awake.  I  am  a  very 
cool,  quiet  man  in  emergencies,  and  was  never  more 
so  than  upon  this  occasion.  Every  person  in  the 
circle  saw  this  face  ;  but  I  only  recognized  it.  It  was 
my  mother's  face.  She  recognized  me,  and  called  me 
by  my  given  name.  To  make  assurance  doubly  sure, 
I  said,  '^  Mother,  please  materialize  your  left-hand, 
and  present  it  at  the  aperture!" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  3  1 3 

In  a  very  brief  space  of  time  a  left-hand  appeared 
at  the  opening,  zvith  the  forefinger  shut  at  the  middle 
joint.  My  mother  had  just  such  a  finger  on  her  left- 
hand.  When  a  child,  she  received  a  burn  which  con- 
tracted the  tendon,  and  fixed  the  forefinger  of  her  left- 
hand  permanently  in  that  position.  I  did  not  require 
this  additional  proof  of  my  mother's  identity;  but,  as 
it  came,  it  was  "a  confirmation,  strong  as  Holy  Writ." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  say  any  thing  about  my 
sensations  on  this  occasion.  The  reader  is  only  in- 
terested in  the  bald  fact,  and  such  I  give.  /  zvas 
glad  to  see  my  mother  s  face  again;  and  speak  of  it 
now  simply  to  vindicate  the  integrity  of  my  senses. 
To  those  who  charge  me  with  giving  undue  promi- 
nence to  this  manifestation,  I  have  but  this  to  say: 
I  respect  my  own  judgment  on  all  occasions,  caring 
little  for  the  applause  of  men,  less  for  their  criticism, 
and  least  for  their  censure. 

After  the  materialization  of  my  mother's  face  and 
hand,  Mrs.  HoUis  came  out  into  the  room  and  re- 
mained for  half  an  hour.  She  was  much  interested 
in  the  manifestations,  and  regretted  that  she  could 
not  see  them  as  we  did.  When  she  returned  to  the 
cabinet,  I  placed  with  her  a  bunch  of  flowers  and  a 
French  harp.  The  door  had  scarcely  been  closed, 
when  Ney's  long  arm  came  out  into  the  room,  and 
began  to  ambulate  in  front  of  the  cabinet.  This  he 
continued  to  do  for  several  minutes,  when  he  wrote 
on  the  slate  :  '' Josephine  will  sahiie  you  this  morning  T 

Scarcely  had  his  large  muscular  arm  been  with- 
drawn, when  a  more  feminine  and  beautiful  arm  and 
hand  were  projected.     The  arm  was  covered  with  a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


314  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

sleeve  of  tulle  or  illusion,  from  above  the  elbow  to  the 
wrist.  Here  the  delicate  fabric  was  gathered  into  a 
band,  fastened  with  a  narrow  ribbon  of  a  pale  cherry 
color.  Beyond  this  gathering,  partly  covering  the 
hand,  was  a  small  ruffle  formed  by  the  end  of  the 
sleeve.  The  hand  was  slenderly  and  symmetrically 
formed — two  of  the  fingers  being  ornamented  with 
jeweled  rings.  A  spirit-handkerchief,  looking  like 
gossamer,  was  held  and  gracefully  waved  several  times 
in  a  sweep  of  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches.  The  hand 
then  retired,  and  in  a  few  seconds  reappeared,  holding 
the  flowers  I  had  placed  in  the  cabinet.  These  were 
subsequently  distributed  by  this  hand  among  the 
members  of  the  circle,  as  souvenirs  of  the  occasion. 
When  the  last  flower  had  been  given j  the  spirit-hand 
picked  up  the  pencil,  and  wrote : 

''  My  Dear  Friend, — There  is  much  I  would  like  to  say  to 
3^011,  respecting  the  reincarnalion  of  my  beloved  Iviisband.  I 
will  write  you  more  fully  when  the  medium  has  been  rested. 
These  materializations  are  ^jtry  exhausting  to  her.  I  will  try 
to  show  my  face  betbre  the  medium  leaves  for  Jiome.  You  aid 
us   ^txy  much,   for  which    our   whole   band  are    grateful.     We 

shall  always  esteem  you  our  good  friend.  Josephine." 

'i 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  writing,  I  went  forward 
to  remove  the  slate,  and  as  I  did  so,  Ney's  hand  came 
out,  and  patted  me  on  the  arm  and  the  back  of  my 
hand  almost  caressingly. 

I  was  about  resuming  my  seat,  and  had  retired 
half  the  distance  between  the  cabinet  and  the  chairs, 
when  the  curtain  covering  the  aperture  was  put  aside, 
and  the  dim  outline  of  a  face  presented.  It  was  quite 
indistinct,  and  remote  from  the  opening;  but  it  gradu- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  315 

ally  came  to  the  front,  and  grew  brighter  and  brig  ftter, 
until  every  feature  was  distinctly  limned,  and  the  tint 
of  the  skin  and  the  color  of  the  eyes  discerned.  The 
face  wore  a  pensive  expression,  and  the  large  dark  eyes 
seemed  sad.  The  hair  was  gathered  up  in  bunches, 
looped  with  strings  of  pearl,  and  studded  with  brill- 
iants. It  was  Josephine,  following,  so  soon,  her  prom- 
ise with  its  fulfillment.  She  could  only  maintain  her 
best  materialization  for  a  few  seconds,  when  she 
seemed  to  retire  from  the  front  to  the  rear  of  the 
cabinet,  fading,  fading,  fading,  into  utter  darkness. 

After  an  interval  of  a  few  minutes,  her  hand  ap- 
peared through  the  aperture,  holding  a  phantom  flower. 
It  remained  for  a  {qsn  seconds,  then  retired,  when  an- 
other, and  another  were  presented  quickly  in  succes- 
sion. These  ^' celestial  exotics"  were  plainly  presented, 
but  could  not  be  identified. 

But  a  few  minutes  had  passed,  when  there  ap- 
peared at  the  aperture  the  lower  part  of  a  man's  face, 
plainly  seen  from  below  the  eyes  to  the  chin,  which 
was  covered  with  a  heavy  beard.  A  French  harp 
was  held  to  the  mouth,  and  the  notes  sounded  several 
times,  though  no  tune  was  attempted.  These  could 
be  distinctly  heard  in  the  adjacent  rooms.  It  was 
subsequently  stated  that  Jim  Nolan  was  the  harpist. 
After  this  unique  concert  was  over,  and  the  cloth 
had  fallen  over  the  aperture  a  few  minutes,  the  door 
of  the  cabinet  was  suddenly  pushed  open,  when,  to  my 
utter  amazement,  I  saw,  as  plainly  as  could  be,  for  an 
instant,  the  form  of  a  man  standing  beside  Mrs.  HoUis. 
His  head  was  uncovered — large  and  full  round  face. 
He  wore  a  military  uniform,  with  medallion  decorations 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


3i6 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


upon  the  breast  of  his  coat.  I  could  see  him 
only  for  a  second,  and  was  in  such  a  Hne  of  observa- 
tion as  to  obstruct  the  view  of  others  in  the  circle. 
When  the  light  fell  upon  him,  he  melted  into  air,  as 
melts 

"  The  snow-flake  on  the  river  \ 
A  moment  white,  then  lost  forever." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  317 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  NEW  CABINET  AND  NEW  PROGRAMME— CHARLES 
REEMELIN— PURCELL  AND  MANSFIELD— CORRY— 
PARENTS  RECOGNIZING  CHILDREN—  CHILDREN 
RECOGNIZING  PARENTS— OLD  FRIENDS— THE  TES- 
TIMONY OF  WELL-KNOWN  CITIZENS  — WRITING  — 
SPIRITS  CONVERSING  THROUGH  THE  APERTURE— 
F.  B.  PLIMPTON  AS  AN  INVESTIGATOR— HIS  ABLE 
REPORT. 

THE  cabinet  seances,  recorded  in  the  last  chapter, 
ended  Mrs,  HoUis's  third  engagement  in  Cin- 
cinnati. The  following  morning  she  started  for  home. 
I  now  wrote  a  statement  of  the  manifestations  that 
had  occurred  in  her  presence,  and  published  it  in 
the  Cincinnati  ComnieixiaL  My  object  was  to  direct 
public  attention  to  the  subject,  and,  if  possible,  en- 
list more  general  interest  in  the  marvelous  character 
of  spirit-phenomena.  In  this,  I  but  partially  suc- 
ceeded. The  chief  editor  of  the  Commeixial  very  soon 
discovered  himself  to  be  neither  friendly  to  spiritual- 
ism nor  to  the  investigation  of  its  phenomena.  He 
was  master  of  the  situation,  and  with  as  wayward  a 
fancy  as  if  he  swayed  an  empire. 

Under  such  circumstances,  "discretion  is  the 
better  part  of  valor ;"  so  my  best  policy  was  to  **  Sage 
nichts  so  lange  als  der  verdammte  hanswurst  faselt.'* 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


3l8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Give  him  scope,  and  he  and  his  corps  of  sniveling 
correspondents  will  soon  dangle.  And  they  did. 
To  mention  spiritualism  in  the  presence  of  some 
people,  is  like  displaying  a  red  flag  before  a  wild 
steer,  or  throwing  water  on  an  animal  with  hydro- 
phobic proclivities  ;  they  get  mad — veiy  mad.  In 
fact,  they  take  on  duodenal  cramps  and  epigastrical 
spasms  of  the  brain.  "Why  this  is  thus,"  I  can  not 
exactly  tell!  It  is  as  perplexing  a  problem  to  me  as 
spiritual  phenomena  itself  I  only  notice  the  fact 
because  it  is  a  fact.  These  people  are  generally  the 
escapes  from  lunatic  asylums,  or  the  inmates  of  pagan 
Churciies,  in  which  the  milder  forms  of  insanity  are 
popularly  manifested  as  devotion. 

So  much  had  been- printed  that  was^alike  '^foolish 
and  false"  respecting  the  spirit-manifestations  I  had 
publicly  recorded,  that  I  deemed  it  necessary  to  have 
Mrs.  Hollis  return  again  to  the  city.  I  did  this  to 
enable  me  to  cite  other  witnesses  to  the  facts  when  I 
came  to  make  my  final  report,  which  I  now  had  de- 
cided to  do  in  the  present  form.  Her  fourth  engage- 
ment commenced  on  the  20th  of  August. 

As  I  had  disposed  of  my  cabinet,  it  was  necessary 
to  construct  another  ;  but  this  time  I  directed  Mr. 
Brown  to  put  up  a  close  board  partition  across  the  end 
of  the  cabinet  room,  four  feet  from  the  north  wall. 
In  the  center  of  this  partition  a  batten-door  was 
hung  which  opened  into  the  room  ;  and  in  the  center 
of  the  door  a  circular  aperture  was  made,  twelve 
inches  in  diameter,  four  feet  and  a  half  from  the  floor. 
This  was  covered  with  black  cloth  hanging  on  the  in- 
side, to  make  the  chamber  perfectly  dark.     When  com- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  '    319 

pleted,  the  interior  dimensions  of  this  cabinet  were 
ten  feet  long,  seven  feet  high,  and  four  feet  deep. 
The  door  fastened  on  the  inside  vyith  a  wood  button. 
Under  the  aperture,  on  the  outside,  the  bracket  was 
adjusted  to  hold  the  slate.     This  was  the  new  cabinet. 

As  soon  as  it  was  completed,  Mrs.  HolUs  entered 
for  manifestations.  The  members  of  my  family  only 
were  present ;  among  these  a  lad  fifteen  years  old,  who 
had  never  been  in  a  spiritual  circle,  and  who  had  but 
recently  come  to  the  city.  Several  hands  were  pre- 
sented at  the  aperture  in  the  course  of  fifteen  min- 
utes, when,  after  a  lull  of  ten  minutes,  my  mother's 
face  appeared.  I  said  nothing  while  the  materialzation 
was  taking  place,  nor  did  I  give  it  recognition  until 
the  lad  referred  to  exclaimed,  '^  Look,  uncle ;  see,  there 
is  grandmother  r  This  boy  was  reared  by  my  mother, 
and  was  quite  competent  to  identify  her  familiar  face. 
The  spirit  seemed  to  be  gratified  with  Tom's  pres- 
ence and  recognition,  as  she  smiled,  and  pronounced 
his  name  in  such  audible  tones  that  all  present  could 
hear  it.  She  remained  at  the  aperture  tzvo  niimites. 
Several  other  faces,  besides  a  number  of  hands  and 
arms,  were  shown,  when  the  seance  came  to  an  end. 
It  was  evident  the  power  to  manifest  had  increased 
rather  than  diminished  in  the  new  cabinet.  I  therefore 
at  once  decided  to  invite  a  number  of  representative 
people  to  witness  the  manifestations,  and  examine  the 
conditions  under  which  they  were  produced,  with  the 
understanding  that  such  persons  would  make  a  fair 
written  statement  of  what  they  saw  and  heard,  over 
their  own  signatures,  for  public  use. 

The  invitation   was  given  in  the  Commercial  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


320  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

August  30,  1872,  of  which  the  following  is  about  the 
substance : 

SPIRIT  PHENOMENA  IN  CINCINNATI. 
TO  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN. 

Editor  of  Commercial : 

Sir, — You  liave  published  several  articles  recently,  over  tlie 
signature  of  ''Nep.,"  in  relation  to  spirit  phenomena,  which  have 
attracted  attention.  The  statements  contained  in  those  articles 
were  of  sucli  an  extraordinar)^  character  as  to  elicit  a  great  deal 
of  unfriendly  criticism  by  yourself  and  correspondents. 

I  now  propose  to  afford  a  limited  number  of  intelligent  men 
and  women  an  opportunity  to  witness  similar  manifestations  at 
my  dwelling,  on  condition  that,  over  their  own  signatures,  they 
will  make  a  written  statement  of  what  they  see  and  hear  apper- 
taining to  the  same,  for  public  use. 

To  facilitate  tliis  object,  I  propose  to  form  several  circles 
composed  of  three  persons  each,  and  give  from  four  to  six  sit- 
tings to  each  circle,  all  to  be  subject  to  the  rules  governing  the 
formation  of  circles,  which  are  known  to  establish  the  best  con- 
ditions for  spirit  manifestations.' 

To  enter  these  circles,  there  shall  be  no  discrimination 
between  Jew  and  Gentile,  Pagan  and  Christian,  editors  and 
preachers,  but  representative  men  and  women  of  all  classes 
shall  be  welcome,  ''without  money  and  without  price." 

To  stimulate  the  wavering  to  engage  in  this  good  work,  / 
promise  that  in  a  lighted  roout  will  be  realized  the  presence  of 
our  supposed  dead  frie^tds,  who  will  write,  speak,  and  show 

THEIR  FACES    SO   AS   TO   BE   RECOGNIZED. 

If  these  manifestations  are  frauds,  now  is  a  most  propitious 
time  to  ''smite  them,  hip  and  thigh  !"  There  shall  be  no  effort 
attempted  to  protect  them  from  the  closest  scrutiny. 

This  invitation  brought  letters  in  response  from 
about  two  hundred  representative  (?)  men  and  women, 
all   willing    to    come  and  see  these  wonderful  things. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  12\ 

The  Queen  City  may  well  be   proud  of  her  jewels 
I    did    not    think    the    crop    so    prolific.       Some    of 
them  signatured  themselves  with  an  X;  and  others 
(E.  A.  among  them),  claimed  to  be  such  because  they 
scribbled  occasionally  for  a  newspaper. 

"  O,  wad  some  power  the  giftie  gi'  us 
To  see  oursel's  as  ithers  see  us  ! 
It  wad  ftae  mony  a  blunder  free  us, 

An'  foolish  notion," 

I  discovered  my  mistake.  My  intention  was  to  en- 
gage the  attention  of  such  men  as  Mr.  John  B.  Purcell, 
Mr.  Max  Lillienthal,  Mr.  Edward  Purcel],  Mr.  Thomas 
Vickers,  Mr.  Charles  Reemelin,  Mr.  E.  D.  Mansfield, 
Mr.  F.  B.  Plimpton,  Mr.  Granville  Moody,  Mr.  Wm.  M. 
Corry,  and  one  or  two  others  who  really  occupied  po- 
sitions which  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  a  limited  number  of  their  fellow-citizens.  To  most 
of  these  gentlemen  J  was  personally  unknown  ;  and 
when  I  spoke  of  my  intention  to  call  upon  them  for 
the  purpose  indicated,  I  was  assured  that  I  would  be 
denied  by  every  one  of  them.  I  could  not  see  why 
it  should  be  so  ;  for  truth  seeks  neither  place  nor  ap- 
plause, bows  at  no  human  shrine,  but  only  asks  a 
hearing.  When  men  deny  this,  they  openly  manifest 
their  own  error,  and  write  their  own  condemnation. 

On  a  careful  inspection  of  my  list  of  representa- 
tive men,  I  found  so  little  homogeneousness  of  char- 
acter among  them,  that  I  gave  up  the  conceit  of  get- 
ting them  together  in  a  common  circle.  The  next 
best  thing  to  be  done  was  to  select  three  or  four,  and 
handle  them  the  best  I  could. 

I  found,  in   my  intercourse  with   people  who  had 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


322  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

adopted  Church  creeds  for  thdr  guidance  in  spiritual 
m-atters,  that  they  were  either  afraid  to  investigate 
spiritual  phenomena,  or  were  ready  to  zealously  con- 
demn without  examining  it  at  all.  I  therefore  be- 
gan my  operations  with  Mr.  Charles  Reemelin, who,  I 
understood,  was  not  at  all  trammeled  with  dogmas  or 
fettered  with  creeds.  I  drove  to  his  residence,  near 
Dent,  and  found  him  superintending  the  gathering  of 
grapes  in  his  vineyard.  After  introducing  myself,  I 
stated  the  object  of  my  visit  as  briefly  and  fairly  as  I 
could.  Mr.  Reemelin  is  not  a  man  to  be  trifled  with  ; 
and  it  is  plainly  written  all  over  his  face  that  he  en- 
tertains decided  opinions,  whatever  they  maybe.  He 
said  :  *'  What  is  the  use  of  talking  about  seeing  spirits, 
when  there  are  no  spirits  to  see?  You  can't  see  a 
thing  that  is  not.  A  woman  told  me  she  expected  to 
meet  her  husband  in  heaven,  and  I  said,  '  Madam,  you 
would  n't  want  to  look  at  him  after  he  is  rotten  ; 
when  the  breath  leaves  the  body,  that  is  the  last  of 
the  man.' '' 

*'But,  Mr.  Reemelin,''!  said,  "that  which  you  say 
cant  be,  is  !  Come  and  see.  You  limit  possibility  to 
the  operations  of  your  own  mind.  The  impossible  to 
you,  may  be  the  possible  to  others  ;  we  are  all  stu- 
dents yet,  and  have  much  to  learn.  I  would  like  you 
to  see  these  manifestations,  and  know  what  you  think 
of  them  afterward.  Your  opinions  before  seeing  them 
are  of  no  value.  After  you  have  seen  them,  that 
which  you  may  say  will  have  some  influence  with 
other  men." 

''This  is  all  a  trick,  a  species  of  jugglery,  got  up 
for  a  purpose.     I  heard  of  a  ghost-story  in  Germany—-'* 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  323 

"  Mr.  Reemelin,"  I  interrnptecl,  "  allow  me  to  intro- 
duce you  to  Mrs.  HoUis,  the  spirit-medium.  Talk  to 
her  about  the  trick." 

Mr.  Reemelin  changed  the  topic  of  conversation, 
and  spoke  to  Mrs.  Hollis  of  his  grapes,  his  family, 
and  some  friends  with  whom  she  happened  to  have 
acquaintance.     We  left  him  about  sundown.. 

This  interview  with  the  great  free-thinking  Charles 
Reemelin  convinced  me  that  ''the  pride  of  opinion" 
made  a  man  as  intolerant  a  bigot  as  if  he  had  no 
opinion  at  all.  If  he  is  not  fast  settling  into  fos- 
silism,  it  is  because  I  could  not  engage  his  mind 
with  the  grandest  thought  that  has  been  given  to  the 
world. 

"I  fear  your  representative  men  will  all  fail  you," 
said  Mrs.  Hollis,  as  we  drove  homeward  from  our 
fruitless  visit  to  the  sage  of  Dent.  "You  will  hardly 
get  a  circle  to  suit  you." 

"I  have  given  up  the  idea  of  a  circle.  If  we  can 
only  get  one  or  two  to  begin  with,  we  will  go  ahead. 
"I  will  next  try  Mr.  W.  M.  Corry.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature,  when  it  was  more  honorable 
to  be  such  than  at  present ;  and,  as  an  independ- 
ent journalist,  has  won  a  national  reputation.  Col- 
onel Piatt  says  he  is  the  bravest  thinker  in  America, 
and  also  the  finest  parlor  orator.  From  what  I 
have  heard,  the  impression  on  my  mind  is,  he  is  a  ma- 
terialist in  belief;  but,  I  hope,  not  so  bigoted  a  one  as 
Mr.  Reemelin." 

**  Your  original  idea,  I  think,  is  impracticable,"  said 
Mrs.  Hollis  ;  '\  if  you  could  get  all  your  representative 
men  to  come  together  in  one  circle,  there  would  be  so 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


324  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

much  personal  antagonism,  I  fear,  the  spirits  could 
not  manifest     Harmony  is  an  essential  condition." 

"There  is  not  so  much  personal  antagonism  as 
you  think.  If  Purcell  and  Mansfield,  who  are  about 
the  same  age,  were  placed,  like  Selkirk,  on  a  solitary 
island,  where  the  sound  of  church-going  bells  were 
never  heard,  how  long  do  you  suppose  their  per- 
sonal antagonism  would  be  maintained  ?" 

"Until  they  became  hungry!" 

"Exactly  !  The  bishop  would  forget  his  infallible 
dogma,  and  swallow  gopher  on  Friday  ;  while  Mans- 
field would  soon  consider  him  as  one  of  the  elect, 
and  be  as  fraternal  as  was  Tam  O'Shanter  with 
Souter  Johnnie,  when  they  were  '  fou  for  weeks 
thegither.'  It  is  their  devilish  creeds  that  disunite 
them,  and  *  break  up  nature's  social  union/  " 

"  It  will  always  be  so  !" 

"  No,  it  won*t !  Nature  will  develop  men  too 
large  to  sit  in  pews,  and  too  noble  to  be  fettered  by 
creeds.  To  these  the  door-way  to  the  spirit-woild 
will  be  open,  and  the  dread  and  mystery  of  death 
will  be  removed.  Such  men  are  now  living,  and 
their  number  is  increasing  day  by  day." 

"  Will  we  hold  a  circle  to-night  T  asked  Mrs. 
Hollis,  as  she  adroitly  gave  a  new  direction  to  the 
conversation. 

"Yes:  I  forgot  to  tell  you  I  have  invited  some 
friends  to  the  house  this  evening ;  and  I  suppose  they 
are  there  by  this  time." 

It  was  eight  o'clock  before  we  got  home,  where  we 
found  awaiting  us,  Mr.  W.  W.  Ward,  Mrs.  Rose- 
anna  C.  Ward,  and  Mr.  Geo.   W.  Skaats.     With 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  325 

these,  and  several  members  of  my  family,  we  soon 
visited  the  cabinet-room,  and  Mrs.  Mollis  entered  the 
dark  closet. 

It  was  only  a   few    minutes    after   the    door  was 
closed,  when  a  large,  muscidar  hand  presented  itself 
at  the  aperture,  which  at   iirst  seemed  shadowy,  but 
grackially  grew  to  be  as  substantial  looking  as  one  of 
flesh  and  blood.     It  remained  a  minute  or  more,  and 
was  then  withdrawn.     Very  soon  after,  my  mother's 
head  and  face,  with  all  the  details  of  her  head-dress 
fairly  delineated,  appeared  at  the  opening  in  the  door, 
and  remained  two  minutes.     After  bowing,  she  retired, 
and  was  followed  soon  after  by  the  materialization  of 
a  head  and  face  of  a  young  woman  that  had  not  ap- 
peared before,     Mrs.  Ward  instantly  recognized  the 
spirit  as  Anna  Clemfort,  and  spoke  to  her.     The  reply 
and    acknowledgements    were    made    by  bowing    the 
head  and  rapping  loudly  on  the  inside  of  the  cabinet. 
Mrs.  Ward  herself  is  a  fine  clairvoyant,  and  has  often 
seen,  while  in  her  supersensuous  condition,  the  spirit 
of  Miss    Clemfort,   looking  exactly  as  she  presented 
herself  at  the  aperture.     As  this  spirit  retired,  another 
face  and   head   of  a    beautiful    woman   appeared,  and 
bowed    to    Mrs.    Ward.      It   was  one  who  had  stood 
by  her  as  bridesmaid  many  years  before.     Mrs.  Ward 
called  her  by  name;  in  response  to  which,  she  smiled, 
bowed  her  head,  and  rapped,  as  the  preceding  spirit 
had.     It  was  not  long  before  the  aperture  was  again 
filled  by  another    head  and  face  of  a  lady,  evidently 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  for  she  wore  a  plain  cap. 
The  materialization  was  good  for  half  a  minute,  during 
which  time  the  spirit  was  recognized  as  Mrs.  Rachel 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


326  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Fisher,  by  Mr.  Skaats,  to  whose  family,  during  her 
natural  life,  she  was  quite  well  known. 

It  was  but  a  short  time  after  she  had  retired,  when 
the  head  and  "face  of  Mr.  Thomas  Eller,  the  father  of 
my  nephew,  appeared  at  the  orifice  in  the  door.  All 
tliese  were  presented  in  good  light,  and,  as  they  were 
strongly  individualized,  could  not  be  mistaken. 

A  hand  was  now  projected  into  the  room,  and 
wrote  upon  the  slate  : 

"We  do  not  wish  to  tax  the  medium^s  strength  any  more 
this  evening.     Good-nigl)t!  Ney." 

This  concluded  the  seance. 

When  Mrs.  Hoi  lis  came  out  of  the  cabinet,  her 
pulse  was  sixty,  her  face  pale,  her  hands  cold,  and 
she  spoke  of  a  general  feeling  of  languor.  She  was, 
to  superficial  inspection,  the  least  excited  person  in 
the  room. 

The  next  seance  I  shall  notice  was  held  \w  the 
evening  of  September  3d.  It  was  attended  by  Mrs. 
Angeline  Madison,  Dr.  A.  J.  Hazel  wood,  and  Mr.  G. 
W.  Skaats,  and  two  members  of  my  family.  In  five 
minutes  after  Mrs.  Hollis  entered  the  cabinet,  hands 
of  various  sizes  began  to  appear  at  the  aperture;  some 
Were  projected- into  the  room,  but  most  of  them  ap- 
peared at  the  opening  only,  inside  the  cabinet.  This 
exhibition  continued  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  Fol- 
lowing this  digital  display,  was  the  head  and  face 
of  a  sweet  little  girl,  who  was  immediately  recog- 
nized b}^  Mis.  Madison  as  her  own  child.  The  ma- 
terialization was  very  good,  and  continued  for  a 
minute.      The    mother's    heart    was   filled    with    joy, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  327 

at  meeting  her  darling  again.  Following  closely  was 
the  beautiful  face  of  another  angel  child,  radiant  with 
love-light  and  smiles.  Mr.  Skaats  at  once  recognized 
her  as  his  little  daughter. 

It  is  no  part  of  my  business  to  preach,  but  I  may 
be  indulged  to  say,  that  to  be  present  when  these 
angel  visitants  return  to  show  their  shining  faces,  and 
to  assure  parents  that  there  is  life  beyond  the  tomb, 
is  a  most  exquisite  privilege.  I  envy  not  the  head  ov\ 
heart  of  the  man  who  can  ask,  "Of  what  value  is  all^ 
this.?" 

Seemingly  as  a  guardian  to  the  little  girls,  the 
motherly  face  of  Mrs.  Rachel  Fisher  appeared  almost 
as  soon  as  the  last  one  had  retired.  She  was  instantly 
recognized  by  Mrs.  ^ladison  and  Mr.  Skaats,  to  whom 
she  bowed  her  head  several  times  in  token  of  satisfac- 
tion. As  she  passed  from  the  light,  the  face  of  an  old 
and  well-known  citizen  appeared,  which  was  at  once 
recognized  by  Mrs.  Madison,  Mr.  Skaats,  and  Dr.  Hazel- 
wood,  as  being  Mr.  R.  A.  Madison.  He  was  better 
known  to  old  citizens  of  Cincinnati  as  ** 'Squire  Madi- 
son." Mrs.  Madison  was  his  niece.  Dr.  Hazel  wood  his 
grandson,  and  Mr.  Skaats  his  kinsman  by  marriage. 
The  materialization  was  good,  and  the  light  sufficient 
to  distinguish  every  feature  of  his  face.  No  more  faces 
were  presented  during  the  evening,  but  -a peculiar  \\?iv\d 
was  projected  into  the  room,  and  wrote  on  the  slate: 

"Andrew,  beware  of  following  in  the  footsteps  of—! 
The  wine-cup  is  fatal  !" 

To  this  message  no  name  was  signed  ;  but  the  hand 
was  recognized,  and  both  the  message  and  the  hand 
sufficiently  indicated  the  identity  of  the  author. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


328  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

The  voice  of  a  child  was  now  heard  in  the  cabinet, 
addressing  Mrs.  Madison  as  mother.  The  conversa- 
tion that  ensued  soon  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  living 
and  the  so-called  dead  were  again  in  communion  with 
each  other,  with  only  the  thickness  of  cloth  separating 
them.  The  interview  lasted  about  twenty  minutes  ; 
and  when  it  concluded,  the  seance  closed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  I  was  agreeably  sur- 
prised by  a  call  from  Mr.  F.  B.  Plimpton,  whose  atten- 
tion had  been  arrested  by  the  publication  of  my  Card 
in  the  Coinmercial.  Mr.  Plimpton  is  well  known  as 
an  editorial  writer  on  the  Commercial,  in  its  literary 
and  scientific  department,  where  scholarly  and  scien- 
tific attainments  are  required  to  fill  the  position  well. 
I  had  never  met  this  gentleman  until  he  presented 
himself  at  my  door,  and,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection, 
had  never  before  seen  him.     He  said  : 

"  Good  morning,  sir.     Are  you  Dr.  Wolfe?" 

''  That  is  my  name,  sir.     What  is  yours  V 

'*  Plimpton." 

* '  O  f  t h  e  Co7n mercial  ? ' 

''I  represent  the  Commercial  as  a  reporter  this 
morning,  and  am  here  to  witness  the  phenomena,  an 
account  of  which  you  have  published  as  occurring  in 
the  presence  of  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Hollis." 

*'  You  are  welcome.  I  will  afford  you  every  facil- 
ity in  my  power  to  carry  forward  your  investigation 
of  these  strange  occurrences.  I  am  as  anxious  to 
know  the  truth  of  these  marvelous  manifestations  as 
yourself  Do  not  be  in  a  hurry  in  making  your  report 
or  in  forming  conclusions.  Examine  closely,  pa- 
tiently, and  perseveringly  ;  and  at  any  time,  if  you  think 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRl  TUALISM.  3  29 

I  can  be  of  assistance  to  you,  command  my  services. 
Come  when  you  will,  as  often  as  it  may  please  you, 
and  stay  as  short  or  long  a  time  as  your  convenience 
will  permit ;  you  shall  be  welcome." 

I  now  introduced  Mr.  Plimpton  to  Mrs.  Hollis  ; 
and  of  what  followed  the  ensuing  five  days  may  be 
ascertained  by  reading  the  report  he  gave  through  the 
Commercial,  which  is  here  appended. 

THE    BORDER    LAND. 

AN   EXPERIENCE   WITH  THE   SPIRITS. 

It  was  a  condition  of  the  seance^  which  I  was  invited  to  at- 
tend at  the  house  of  Dr.  N.  B.  Wolfe,  No.  146  Smitii  Street, 
that  I  should  make  faithful  report  of  what  I  saw  and  heard,  or— 
if  it  better  please  the  reader — what  I  seemed  to  see  and  hear  ; 
what,  if  any  thing,  was  failure,  and  what,  if  any  thing,  suc- 
cess. Mrs.  Mary  J.  Hollis,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  an  unpro- 
fessional deveh)ping  medium,  but  notable  for  the  extraordinary 
character  of  the  manifestations  made  through  her,  was  the  tem- 
porary guest  of  Dr.  Wolfe. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  writing  to  fulfill  that  condition.  It 
is  proper,  however,  to  say  at  the  outset,  that  spiritual  terms  and 
phraseology  will  be  used  by  the  writer  as  simply  convenient, 
and  to  add,  personally,  that  in  the  capacity  of  a  reporter  he  re- 
cords only  witnessed  phenomena,  indifferent  whether  they  help 
or  hurt  the  cause  of  spiritualism.  In  that  capacity,  he  has  no 
theories  to  advance,  no  opinions  to  state,  no  conclusions  to 
publish.  He  has  but  one  duty  to  perform:  'Uo  report  pro- 
ceedings," as  he  would,  if  detailed,  those  of  a  convention,  mass- 
meeting,  or  any  public  affair. 

I. 
SLATE-WRITING. 

The  first  sitting  took  place  on  the  5th  of  September,  and 
commenced  at  nine  o'clock  A.  M. 

1  was  conducted  to  a  chamber-room  on  the  second  floor  of 
the  house.  It  was  furnished  as  such  rooms  ordinarily  are. 
The  window,  looking  south,  had  inside  lattice-blinds,  through 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


330  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  slats  of  which  llie  morning  sun  looked  cheerfully  in,  making 
Die  room  "light  and  as  a  lily  in  bloom."  This  condition 
remained  unchiinged  throughout  the  sitting. 

A  light  walnut  toilet-stand,  without  drawers  or  compart- 
ments— a  simple  oblong  wooden  top,  on  slender  supports — was 
brought  from  an  adjoining  apartment,  and  placed  in  the  center 
of  the  room.  A  plaid-grtiMi  and  black-worsted  shawl  was 
thrown  over  it,  and  a  light  checked  carriage-robe  spread  over 
Ihe  shawl,  and  fiilling  to  the  floor  on  all  sides  of  the  stand. 
Upon  the  stand  was  placed  a  six-by-ten  school-slate,  which  was 
carefully  sponged  off,  and  a  bit  of  pencil  half  an  inch  long,  and 
whittled  so  small  that  it  was  difficult  to  handle  it,  and  almost 
impossible  to  wiite  a  legible  word  with  it. 

These  arrangements  completed  by  myself,  and  again  exam- 
ined in  detail  and  in  general,  to  detect  mechanical  hocus  pocus, 
if  there  were  any  concealed  about  the  stand,  Mrs.  Hollis  entered 
the  room,  and  seated  herself  at  the  right  and  about  eighteen 
inches  from  the  stand.  Dr.  Wolfe  was  on  the  left,  and  not  less 
than  three  feet  away.  My  own  position  was  at  the  end  fronting 
both,  so  that  every  motion  could  be  observed. 

Taking  the  slate,  on  which  was  the  bit  of  pencil,  in  her  right- 
hand,  and  lifting  the  stand-cover  with  her  left,  Mrs.  Hollis  pro- 
jected the  slate  and  hand  to  the  wrist  under  the  stand,  letting 
the  drapery  fail  around  it.  At  no  time  did  she  change  her  po- 
sition, nor  did  any  part  of  her  dress  or  person,  except  the  hands, 
when  used  to  project  or  withdraw  the  slate,  come  into  contact 
with  the  stand  or  its  covering. 

Some  minutes  elapsed,  during  which  a  lively  conversation  on 
social  subjects  was  kept  up.  There  was  time  to  take  personal 
observations  of  the  medium.  Mrs.  Hollis  is  of  middle  age,  but 
looks  younger  than  she  is;  of  good  form  ;  rather  stoutish  ;  has 
lustrous  black  e}es  and  hair,  and  regular  and  pleasing  features. 
Her  manner  is  rather  retiring,  always  modest— that  of  a  culti- 
vated, sensitive  woman,  who  has,  however,  been  enough  in 
society  to  acquire  an  easy  and  graceful  self-possession.  On 
this  occasion,  she  was  dressed  in  a  light  morning-wrapper, 
tastefully  but  plainly  trimmed. 

\\\  the  midst  of  the  conveisalion,  a  scratching  sound,  as  of  a 
pencil  drawn  across  a  slate,  w^as  heard.  1  narrowly  watched, 
during  this  and  subsequent  writing,  the  portion  of  the  medium's 
wrist  exposed  between  the  sleeve-cuff  and  the  stand,  but  could 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  3  3 1 

detect  no  motion  of  the  muscles;  on  the  contrary,  they  had 
assumed  a  fixedness  or  rigidity  whicli  comes  of  supporting  a 
weight  in  one  position  for  a  space  of  time. 

Suddenly  tlie  sound  ceased;  the  pencil  dropped  with  a 
click,  and  rattled  over  tlie  slate  as  thougli  it  liad  been  lifted 
some  inches  and  let  fall  upon  it.  Tliis  was  the  signal,  in  each 
instance,  that  the  communication  v. as  finished. 

The  first  writing  proved  to  be  only  a  signature,  written  in 
an  irregular,  running  hand,  in  which  our  family  name  was 
phonetically  j;^^//d?i^  '' Plymton,"  neai  ly  its  old  English  forui. 
John  tried  repeatedly  to  communicate,  but  with  discouraging 
success.  James  Plymlon  came  next,  and  ''Elizabeth  Pliniton^ 
of  Farmington,"  (after  it  was  suggested  to  John  that  we  spelled 
the  name  differently  now,)  Ijiut  none  of  them  was  able  to  go 
further.  They  were  possibly  repelled  by  the  assurance  that 
they  were  all  unknown  to  me. 

When  the  slate  was  next  withdrawn,  there  was  written 
on  it:  "I  am  Willie  Potter,  son  of  Dr.  Potter.  Do  you  know 
me?"  Willie  was  (old  that  I  had  not  the  honor  of  his  acquaint- 
ance. In  reply  he  wrote,  and  with  some  rai)idity;  "  I  was 
always  with  my  pa  in  his  buggy,  and  thought  every  body 
knew  me." 

The  question  was  then  orally  put:  "Is  any  one  whom  I 
know  with  you  ?" 

"  Yes,"  was  the  re[)ly  in  writing;  "your  aunt  Mary,  and  she 
says  that — " 

Here  the  pencil  dropped.  There  ensued  a  series  of  con- 
fused answers,  as  if  the  spirits  w^ere  considerably  "mixed"  as 
to  identity.  For  example,  I  wrote  a  question  on  one  side  of 
the  slate,  and,  turning  it  over,  lianded  it  to  Mrs.  Hollis,  who 
passed  it  under  the  taljle.  The  answer  was,  "Yes,  my  son," 
which  was  entirely  irrelevant.  As,  again,  "Emily  is  with 
me  now." 

The  following  intelligible  communication  was  next  received: 

"Your  friends  are  here,  but  not  able  to  write. 

"M.  D.  Potter." 

This  specimen  of  so-called  spirit-writing  I  preserved  for 
com|)arison.  It  seemed  at  the  moment  that  there  was  a  resem- 
blance between  the  signature  and  Mr.  Potter's,  as  I  remem- 
bered   it.       A    subsequent    comparison,    however,    showed    a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


332  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

material  difference.  In  his  life-time,  Mr.  Potter  never variedtlie 
form  of  writing  bis  name.  To  those  familiar  with  it,  it  was  as 
instantly  recognized  as  that  of  Mr.  Spinner,  on  the  United  States 
treasury-notes.  He  wrote  a  deliberate,  decided  hand,  plain, 
firm,  business-like,  and  very  cliaracteristic  of  the  man  himself. 
The  capital  ^'M,"  in  llie  slate-writing,  was  constructed  radically 
different.  He  never  so  wrote  it.  The  '' D  "  liad  some  general 
resemblance.  The  ^'P"  and  the  final  "r,"  in  the  Christian 
name,  were  unlike  his. 

It  maybe  that  the  pencil  (which,  as  I  shall  show,  is  taken 
between  tiie  fingers  of  what  is  called  a  "materialized"  hand) 
was  too  small  for  manipulation,  and  modified  the  writing.  This 
was  suggested  by  another  experiment.  The  point  of  a  lead- 
pencil  was  broken  off,  and  the  point  again  broken  ;  the  smaller 
and  almost  infinitesimal  part  was  placed  on  a  sheet  of  white 
paper,  and  put  under  the  table.  A  few  words,  of  no  importance, 
but  purporting  to  have  been  wiitten  by  Mr.  Potter,  were 
written,  but  the  writing  was  as  labored  as  that  of  a  school-boy 
just  mastering  his  pot-hooks;  sliowing  tliat  the  instrument 
employed  by  the  spirit-hand  modifies  the  writing  as  it  would 
have  been  if  held  by  a  hand  of  fiesh  and  blood. 

Next  came  a  request  that  I  should  be  at  the  cabinet  the 
following  morning,  at  eleve.n  o'clock,  and  then  this: 

"We  want  to  stop  all  manipulation  now. 

"  John  Plymton." 

The  sitting  was  over. 

It  was  noticeable  that  the  writing — for  example,  of  John — 
was  consistently  characteristic,  first  and  last,  and  each  was  dis- 
tinctive from  the  other.  Nothing  of  conceivable  human  interest 
was  imparted,  and  in  the  only  instance  where  it  was  possible 
to  trace  a  resemblance  of  writing,  the  experiment  was  a  failure. 
The  spelling  of  a  name  phonetically  w^as  not  creditable  to  a 
spirit  of  intelligence.  That  there  was  no  mechanical  fraud 
or  ambidextrous  jugglery  in  the  slate-writing,  I  was  entirely 
satisfied.  Those  who  seek  to  solve  the  myslery  must  give  it 
patient  investigation.  To  denounce  it  as  trickery,  intentional 
deception,  and  humbuggery,  is  simply  to  display  dense  ignorance 
or  unsavory  prejudice.  1  have  thus  been  minutely  particular 
because  of  what  follows. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  333 

II. 

THE  CABINET— MATERIALIZATION. 

The  cabinet,  as  it  is  called,  is  on  the  second  floor  of  a  brick 
Duilding,  in  the  rear  of  the  dvvelling-liouse.  It  is  in  a  small 
middle-room,  between  what  appeared  to  be  two  consulting- 
offices,  with  doors  opening  into  each,  and  transoms  above  them 
admitting  enough  light  to  read  coarse  print,  or  to  see  local  color. 
A  carpet  on  the  floor,  a  book-case,  three  or  four  chairs,  a  small 
stand,  upon  which  was  a  Swiss  music-box,  constituted  the 
furnishing.  The  cabinet  was  on  the  wall  side  of  the  room.  A 
space,  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  clothes-closet,  had  been 
partitioned  off,  from  the  ceiling  to  the  floor.  The  door  opening 
into  it  was  peculiar  only  in  having  an  aperture  something  higher 
than  a  man's  head  cut  into  it.  This  aperture  was  round,  and 
perliaps  twelve  or  fifteen  inches  in  diameter.  A  curtain  of  dark 
clotii,  frilling  on  the  inside  of  the  door  when  closed,  shut  out 
the  light  from  the  cabinet.  A  few  inches  below  the  aperture, 
and  on  the  outside  of  the  door  when  shut,  was  a  plain  wooden 
shelf,  on  which  were  placed  a  slate  and  small  pencil. 

I  carefully  examined  this  contrivance,  sounding  the  wall. 
The  brick  wall  of  the  building  formed  the  one  side,  the  board 
partitions  the  opposite  side  and  the  ends.  With  the  exception 
of  a  strip  of  carpet  on  the  floor  and  a  wooden  cliair,  it  was 
absolutely  bare.  Not  a  nail  or  nail-hole  was  visible,  nor  was  it 
possible  that  there  were  traps  or  concealed  openings,  doors, 
panels,  or  other  pantomime  contrivance  about  it. 

The  palm  of  Mrs.  Hollis's  right-hand  was  deeply  marked, 
in  my  presence,  with  burnt-cork.  As  I  vacated  the  cabinet, 
she  entered,  closing  the  door  after  her.  I  had  hardly  time  to 
cross  the  floor  and  take  a  seat  by  the  side  of  Dr.  Wolfe,  who 
had  wound  up  and  set  the  music-box  in  play,  when  an  open 
hand  appeared  at  the  aperture,  the  palm  toward  us;  it  moved 
twice  slowly  from  right  to  left,  and  disappeared.  Other  hands 
followed  with  like  demonstrations.  Presently  another  presented 
itself,  palm  open  toward  us,  then  turning  slowly  down,  groped 
over  the  slate  on  the  shelf  below,  and,  finding  the  pencil,  began 
to  write,  holding  it  between  the  thumb  and  forefinger.  The 
writing  occupied  a  full  minute,  and  the  hand  was  visible  quite 
another.  Elevating  the  pencil  some  inches,  it  was  let  fall  on 
the  slate,  producing  ^'       -me  rolling  sound  I  had  heard  during 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


334  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  slate-writing  seance.  Again  displaying  the  open  palm,  the 
hand  was  withdrawn.  The  messages  purported  to  be  from 
a  sister,  long  an  invalid,  who  died  some  years  ago,  and  was 
couched  in  phrases  of  affection  such  as  she  frequently  used 
during  her  life-time. 

Some  time  now  elapsed.  The  music-box  continued  to  piny. 
The  eye,  accustomed  to  the  half-light  of  the  room,  easily  took  in 
all  objects.  The  local  color  of  the  paper  on  the  wall,  the  figures 
in  the  carpet  and  its  texture,  were  readily  perceived.  1  was  in- 
formed that  the  spirits  preferred  this  softened  li<;Iit  for  cabinet 
materialization.  The  time  seeming  tedious.  Dr.  Wolfe  said  the 
spirits  were  engaged  in  materializing  a  face.  Soon  after,  an 
apparition — at  first  indistinct,  then  brigliter  and  more  defined— 
appeared  at  the  aperture.  It  was  a  female  face;  but  it  was 
known  neither  to  the  doctor  nor  myself.  •  Asked  if  it  was  one 
of  my  friends  ;   it  nodded  a  reply,  and  withdrew. 

Again  some  time  elapsed,  and  another  face  appeared,  but  so 
dim  that  we  were  only  able  to  make  out  the  outlines  of  a  man's 
face.  "You  must  do  better  than  that,"  said  I,  "  if  you  want  to 
be  recognized."  Two  other  efforts  were  made,  the  last  so  suc- 
cessful that  I  involuntarily  exclaimed,  "  Potter  !"  and  instantly 
a  roll  of  sharp  knockings,  while  the  face  was  still  visible, 
sounded  along  the  partition.  When  the  face  disappeared,  the 
knocks -were  rapidly  repeated  with  intense  emphasis.  The  face 
was  life-size,  had  the  compact  full  forehead,  the  hair  brushed 
away  froni  it  after  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Potter  wore  it. 
The  mixture  of  gray  in  the  hair  and  chin-whiskers  was  visible. 
Dr.  Wolfe  did  not  recognize  it  till  the  name  was  mentioned. 
This  manifestation  lasted  three  minutes. 

Presently  another  face  appeared.  "Who  is  that?"  said  Dr. 
Wolfe.  "It  is  a  woman,  wearing  a  cap,"  he  added.  I  thought 
of  all  the  grandmothers  and  aunts  I  had  known.  There  ap- 
peared to  be  great  difficulty  in  the  materialization  of  this  face. 
Three  or  four  times  it  appeared,  but  was  told  it  could  not  be 
made  out.  Again  it  came  forward.  What  the  doctor  had  mis- 
taken for  a  cap  was  the  hair,  combed  down  over  a  very  high 
forehead  and  drawn  plainly  over  the  lips  of  the  ears.  The  large, 
serene  blue  eyes,  the  oval  of  the  face,  the  retreating  chin,  the 
languid  expression  about  the  mouth,  the  light  color  of  the  hair, 
were  unmistakable  characteristics  of  the  face  of  an  invalid  sis- 
ter who  died   ten  years  ago  in  the  northern  part  of  Ohio,  who 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  335 

was  never  in  Cincinnati,  and  of  whom  no  picture  is  in  existence, 
except  an  old  faded  daguerreotype,  taken,  perhaps,  sixteen 
years  ago.  The  pecuhar  mode  of  wearing  the  hair  was  due  to 
protracted  ilhiess  ;  it  was  put  up  in  the  readiest  way  an  invahd 
could  do  it  with  comfort  to  herself. 

Next  appeared  the  face  of  a  female,  recognized  by  Dr.  Wolfe 
as  Lizzie  Odell — a  pretty,  full  face,  with  a  profusion  of  black 
curls,  and  a  clierry-colored  ribbon  bound  across  the  forehead  at 
the  edge  of  the  hair,  and  running  back  over  tiie  ears,  Lizzie 
smiled,  nodded  twice,  and  passed  on. 

A  hand  again  appeared,  took  up  the  pencil,  and  wrote.  It 
was  a  communication  purporting  to  be  from  my  sister.  Two 
other  messages  were  written  by  the  same  hand.  The  last  time 
it  appeared,  after  writing  and  dropping  the  pencil,  it  was  sud- 
denly projected  into  the  air,  high  above  and  forward  of  the  ap- 
erture in  tlie  door,  displaying  the  fore-arm  bare  to  the  elbow,  and 
so  sharply  clear  and  tangible  that  the  modeling  and  veining  of 
the  arm  were  distinctly  seen.  It  was  so  unanticipated  that  I 
confess  to  have  been  startled.  L  had  been  prepared  to -see 
hands  and  faces,  but  this  was  a  sensation.  Swaying  to  one  side 
and  the  other  for  the  space  of  thirty  seconds,  it  was  withdrawn. 
A  rap  on  the  wall  indicated  the  conclusion  of  the  seance, 
Mrs.  Hollis  came  out.  The  black  spot  in  the  palm  of  her  right- 
hand  was  unaltered.  In  every  instance  the  right-hand  had  been 
shown,  with  open  palm,  to  show  us  it  v/as  not  marked.  The 
cabinet-was  as  it  had  appeared  before  the  sitting. 

1  had  abundant  leisure  to  observe  these  apparitions.  The 
hand  and  arm  could  not  have  been  those  of  Mrs.  Hollis.  The 
fingers  were  long  and  delicate,  the  arm  fair  in  shape,  but  slen- 
der ;  the  texture  was  that  of  a  blonde,  which  Mrs.  Hollis  is  not, 
and  the  modeling  was  that  of  a  girl's  rather  than  a  woman's 
arm.      Hands    were  shown  much  smaller  than   the   medium's. 

•  By  no  possibility  could  they  have  been  hers,  and  there  was 
about  them  what  seemed  to  me  a  soft  filminess,  as  distinguish- 
able from  a  living  hand,  as  to  the  eye  the  outline  of  a  distant 
snow-capped  mountain  is  distinguishable  from  the  fleecy,  sun- 
illuminated  clouds  which  surround  it,  and  through  the  rifts  of 

.which  the  snowy  summit  is  revealed.  It  seemed  to  me,  also, 
that  there  was  a  constant  effort,  especially  in  the  case  of  faces, 
to  rnaintain  the  status  of  materialization,  as  if  the  tendency  were 
to    dissolve  and   *'melt  into  thin  air."      At  moments  when  ih.e 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


336  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

materialization  was  most  perfect,  there  was  a  curious  glow  upon 
tlie  face,  not  destroying,  but  rather  heightening,  the  effect  of 
local  color  in  the  hair,  eyes,  and  skin. 

I  have  thus  endeavored  to  state  plainly  what  I  saw, 
or  supposed  I  saw,  and  to  give  the  reader  as  clear  and 
intelligible  an  idea  of  the  phenomena  as  it  is  possible  for  me  to 
convey. 

III. 

THE   DARK   CIRCLE — A   SPIRIT   INTERVIEWED. 

There  are  three  forms  of  manifestation  through  this  medium  : 
slate-writing,  materialization  of  forms,  and  vocalization.  Tlie 
last,  and  said  to  be  tiie  most  difficult,  takes  place  in  a  room 
from  which  all  light  is  absolutely  exckuled. 

The  daik  circle  was  appointed  for  the  evening  of  the  same 
day.  It  was  given  in  a  sleeping-room  on  the  third  floor  of  the 
dwelling-house.  Bed-quilts  were  tacked  over  the  two  windows. 
Four  chairs  were  placed  against  the  wall,  between  a  bed,  over 
which  a  mosquito-bar  was  drawn,  and  a  wardrobe  containing  a 
lady's  di'esses.  Upon  the  dressing-bureau  was  the  music-box. 
An  ordinary  speaking-trumpet  of  tin  stood  by  the  door  ;  a  chair 
was  placed  in  the  center  of  the  room.  Dr.  Wolfe,  myself,  and 
two  ladies  occupied  the  chairs  by  the  wall,  and  the  medium  that 
in  the  center  of  the  room,  about  eight  feet  from  us. 

The  night  was  intensely  hot  for  the  season,  and  this  room 
under  the  n)of,  from  which  the  air  as  well  as  the  light  was  ex- 
cluded, was  oppressively  close.  Tlie  fans,  with  which  all  were 
supplied,  were  kept  in  unceasing  agitation.  I  could  hear  that  of 
the  medium  whenever,  during  the  sitting,  there  was  a  moment 
of  silence. 

The  music-box  was  wound  up  by  Dr.  Wolfe,  and  set  to 
plnying,  and  the  lights  were  turned  off.  A  conversation  was 
kept  up  between  Mrs.  Hollis  and  all  of  us  while  awaiting  some* 
manifestation.  Presently  there  was  thumping  and  pounding  on 
the  floor  in  various  parts  of  the  room,  sometimes  unpleasantly 
near,  suggesting  the  propriety  of  taking  care  of  tender  corns. 
It  ceased,  and  now  voices  were  heard  in  the  room  singing 
snatches  of  the  opera-airs  which  the  music-box  was  playing, 
and  in  remarkably  good  pitch  and  lime.  They  were  not  the 
voices  of  the  persons  about  me,  I  knew.  They  did  not  come 
from  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Mollis'  chair,  and  they  seemed  to 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  337 

proceed  from  a  source  much  higlier  than  her  head,  and  to  float 
about  the  room.  It  was  an  unworded  song,  unless  a  language 
unfamiliar  to  us  was  used. 

The  music-box  having  exhausted  itself,  there  was  a  space  of 
silence,  and  presently  tiiere  was  a  hoarse  vocal  effort  at'speak- 
ing,  but  not  clear  to  my  ear.  Tlien  an  infantile  voice  was  heard, 
which  Dr.  Wolfe  recognized  as  that  of  a  cliild  who  had  died  at 
six.  At  his  request,  she  sang  a  verse  of  the  song,  ''  I  want  to  be 
an  angel,"  in  company  with  liim.  It  was  a  child's  voice,  unmis- 
takably, in  its  limited  vocal  power  and  range,  immature  tone 
and  accent  and  articulation  of  words,  and  very  near  to  us. 

Again,  the  hoarse  voice,  as  of  a  man   speaking  through   a 
trumpet,  was  heard.     It  announced  the  presence  of  James  No- 
lan.    He  was  described  as  materialized,  speaking  through  the 
trumpet,  whicli  he  held  in  his  materialized  hand,  and  as  visible  to 
the  medium,  who  also  described  several  spirits  standing  l)y  us. 
This  communicative  gentleman,  after  an  introduction  to  the 
strangers  of  the  part)',  and  a  familiar  "How  are  you,  this  even- 
ing.?" to  Dr.  Wolfe  and  tlie  medium,  undertook  to  explain  some 
of  the  mysteries  of  spirit  manifestation.      For  the  space  of  an 
hour  he  was  pretty  smartly  plied  with  questions  by  all  of  us, 
tlie  medium  not  unfrequentiy  joining  in  the  discussion  with  him. 
I  was  in  no  position    to   take  note,  as   the  reader  will  readily 
imagine,  and   have  to   rely  upon  memory  for  an  outline  of  the 
conversation. 

He   was   asked   why  it   was   necessary  to  darken  the  room 
after  such  fashion. 

He  said:  '-You  have  noticed  a  ray  of  sunliglit  passing 
•  through  the  slats  of  a  window-blind,  and  filled  with  fine  particles 
of  dust.  Well,  so  the  atmosphere  is  pervaded  with  electricity. 
Light  increases  its  activity,  and  makes  it  difficult,  almost  impos- 
ible,  for  us  to  control  it.  This  force,  in  its  refined  form,  sur- 
rounds the  human  body,  and  passes  in  currents  over  it.  It  is 
least  active  in  darkness,  and  hence  you  fall  to  sleep  easier  in  a 
dark  than  in  a  light  room.  Does  this  seem  reasonable  to  you  ?" 
It  was  admitted  to  be  at  least  plausible. 

The  conversation  was  continued  at  great  length  ;  but  I  shall 
not  attempt  to  report  it  in  detail.  The  conditions  of  the  spirit- 
world  were  inquired  into.  Was  it  light  always  there?  Yes. 
Do  you  take  cognizance  of  what  transpires  on  the  earth  ?  Yes  : 
all  men  and  women  are  attended  by  their  own  spirit-friends, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


338  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

who  see  their  good  and  bad  acts,  try  to  impress  tliem  with  good 
impulses,  seeking  to  elevate  tliem  ;  feel  sorry  for  them  when 
they  tail  to  control  them,  and  rejoice  when  their  progress  is 
toward  that  which  is  good  and  pure  and  lovely.  Then  you  feel 
as  we  feel — have  emotions,  passions,  joys,  sorrows  ?  Yes  :  but 
we  have  no  sickness,  no  death.  And  you  have  volition  and  the 
power  to  pass  from  place  to  place  t  Yes:  with  the  rapidity  of 
thought. 

The  question  of  moral  responsibility  was  raised  by  a  lady  of 
the  party,  growing  out  of  some  remark  of  Nolan's  touching  in- 
herited temperaments  and  dispositions.  Nolan  maintained  that 
whatever  is,  is  right,  quoting  Pope's  language,  and  practically 
denied  moral  responsibility  for  what  is  done  in  the  body.  He 
was  pretty  sharply  examined  on  this  head,  and  said  much  which 
has  formed  the  matter  of  speculation,  reasoning,  and  analogy 
among  thinking  men,  into  which  1  shall  not  enter. 

He  gave  an  interesting  account  of  himself.  Was  born,  he 
said,  in  Harrison  County,  Indiana;  went  to  Gosport ;  enlisted 
in  the  Fifty-fourth  Indiana  (I  think  he  said) ;  served  three  years  ; 
was  with  General  Pope  at  Island  No.  lo,  and  went  with  Sher- 
man in  his  famous  march  ;  was  taken  sick  with  typhoid  fever 
somewhere  near  Atlanta;  was  sent  back  to  Nashville,  and  died 
in  the  Maxwell  House,  then  used  as  a  hospital  ;  was  insensible 
some  days  before. he  died  ;  saw  his  spiritual  leave  his  physical 
body,  but  still  seemed  unconscious  of  the  change  till  two  or  three 
of  his  comrades,  who  had  gone  before,  came  to  his  side  and 
said,  "Well,  Jim,  you  have  come  over  ;"  whereupon  he  replied, 
"Good  God!  am   I  dead,  then?"  to  which  they  answered  that 

he  was.  . 

An  incident  of  this  conversation  I  must  not  omit.  He  asked 
me  if  I  had  not  invited  a  Presbyterian  deacon  to  be  present  that 
evening.  I  could  think  of  none.  "  Did  n't  you  ask  a  man  named 
Reed  to  come  ?"  I  then  remembered  to  have  met  Mr.  Reed,  of 
the  Gazette,  by  chance  that  day,  in  Fountain  Square,  and  said 
I  was  going  to  a  seance  that  night,  inviting  him,  in  a  jocular  way, 
to  accompany  me,  to  which  an  equally  jocular*  reply  was  given. 
Jim  had  possibly  confused  the  "  truly  good  man  "  of  the  Gazette 
with  his  wicked  partner. 

Nolan's  question  surprised  me,  as  the  incident  had  wholly 
passed  out  of  my  mind.  I  had  not  mentioned  it  to  any  person, 
whatever  Mr.  Reed  may  have  done. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  339 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  conversation  with  Nolan,  I  heard  a 
voice  not  much  above  a  whisper,  seemingly  within  a  foot  of  my 
ear.  It  announced  the  presence  of  my  sister.  My  mother,  she 
■  said,  and  a  very  dear  aunt  (whose  name  she  gave,  and  one 
tliat  could  have  been  known  to  but  one  person  in  tiie  room 
besides  myself,  and  she  an  utter  stranger  to  the  medium,  Dr. 
Wolfe,  and  the  other  lady)  were  present,  but  could  not  talk. 
She  did  not  use  the  trumpet,  and  articulated  with  difficulty  and 
in  so  low  a  tone  that  it  required  attentive  listening  to  catch  her 
words. 

The  heat  in  the  room  by  this  time  had  become  stifling,  and, 
to  the  relief  of  all  parties,  bodied  and  disembodied,  the  seance 
was  brought  to  a  conclusion. 

All  that  had  been  said  by  Nolan  concerniii^g  the  spirit-life, 
the  laws  and  conditions  of  manifestation,  the  difficulties  to  be 
overcome,  the  subtleties  of  the  medium  which  they  employ — 
called  by  him  refined  electricity,  by  many  animal  magnetism,  by 
others  odic  force — the  jDOsitive  and  negative  characters  of  this 
force,  the  power  of  mind  over  mind  in  the  bod)^,  and  of  spirit 
over  mind  under  certain  favorable  sympathetic  conditions,  was 
familiar  to  me  from  investigations  made  more  than  twenty  years 
ago,  and  dropped  after  satisfying  myself  of  the  assumptions  of 
mesmerism  and  clairvoyance. 

This  dark-circle  business  is  least  satisfactory  of  the  three 
modes  of  manifestation.  You  have  to  depend  upon  the  single 
sense  of  hearing.  There  is  reasonable  opportunity  for  trickery 
and  intentional  deception.  Yet  if  what  I  heard  at  this  seance 
was  ventriloquism,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  Mrs.  Mollis  is 
the  most  extraordinary  ventriloquist  in  the  world,  and  is  en- 
dowed with  as  many  voices  as  Orator  Puff.  She  has  capacity 
not  only  to  direct  her  voice  to  all  parts  of  a  room,  to  advance 
and  retire  it,  but  to  speak  in  her  natural  voice  at  the  same  mo- 
ment she  speaks  ventriloqually,  not  only  articulating  different 
words  at  the  same  moment,  but  constructing  different  sentences, 
and  conveying  entirely  different  ideas  upon  subjects  wholly 
irrelevant  to  each  other. 

The  reader  can  draw  his  own  conclusions.  He  may  pro- 
nounce this  so-called  spiritualism  illusion,  trickery,  jugglery, 
sleight-of  hand,  the  work  of  the  devil  or  his  imps  ;  it  is  a  matter 
of  total  indifference  to  me  what  he  thinks,  or  how  much  he  be- 
lieves or  disbelieves  of  this  statement.      Havin«:    never  been 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


340  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

troubled  by  dreams,  premonitions,  illusions,  prophetic  moni- 
tions, apparitions,  ghosls,  or  other  evidences  of  indigestion  or 
disordered  nerves  myself,  I  do  not  believe  I  iuive  suddenly 
fallen  into  a  condition  in  which  I  may  not  credit  the  reasonable 
evitlence  of  my  own  senses  as  to  what  I  see  and  hear.  But  how 
these  phenomena  come  to  pass,  it  is  not  the  business  of  a  re- 
porter to  explain,  if  he  could,  while  employed  in  that  capacity. 
My  duty  is  discharged,  and  the  conditions  fulfilled. 


*' And  so  you  are  going  to  make  a  report  of  this  stuff?"  said 
a  friend. 

''And  why  not?" 

"And  intend  to  publisli  the  statement?" 

"And  still,  why  not?" 

"And  subscribe  your  name  ?" 

"And  yet  again,  wliy  not  ?" 

"  But  what  good  will  come  of  it?" 

''  I  don't  know  ;  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  consequences," 

"  But  you  will  be  sneered  nnd  laughed  at." 

"Very  well  ;  I  am  but  a  reporter  of  things  which  have  taken 
place.  In  this,  as  a  matter  of  good  faith,  and  a  guarantee  that 
I  do  not  seek  to  tax  incredulity,  or  practice  upon  the  popular 
love  of  the  marvelous,  I  have  no  hesitation  to  attest  it  in  the 
best  form  that  a  man  having  respect  for  his  reputation  for 
veracity,  can  give  it," 

As  an  act  of  good  faith  toward  the  reader,  I  depart  from 
the  impersonality  that  ought  to  characterize  journalism,  in  this 
single  instance,  and  subscribe  myself  respectfully, 

F.  B.  PLIMPTON. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  S4I 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

PLIMPTON— CORRY— PRIVATE  SEANCES— RECOGNIZING 
FRIENDS  — SPIRIT-FLOWERS  —  BUCHANAN  READS, 
AND  SPEAKS  AUDIBLY— A  SPIRIT  PRINTS  HIS  HAND 
IN  FLOUR— ABOUT  CONDITIONS  — "A  BET"— GEO. 
D.  PRENTICE—  COLONEL  PIATT  —  TRANSFORMA- 
TION—ILLUMINATED    SPIRITS. 

MR.  PLIMPTON'S  report  was  read  with  amaze- 
ment by  those  who  had  previously  treated  the 
.  whole  subject  with  ridicule.  It  was  copied  in  several 
papers,  and  awakened  general  interest  in  the  subject  of 
spirit  phenomena.  It  was  the  voluntary  testimony  of 
one  who  had  spoken  and  written  effectively  against 
spiritualism.  His  mission  was  to  persecute,  when  he 
began  to  investigate — to  punish  Mrs.  Hollis  and  my- 
self for  daring  to  invite  the  public  to  examine  the 
manifestations.  The  fact  was  quite  patent  that  Mr. 
Plimpton's  hostility  to  spiritualism  amounted  to  a  per- 
secution of  those  who  believed  it,  and  his  check  was 
almost  as  sudden  and  unlooked-for  as  as  was  that  of 
the  infatuated  Saul  who  fell  by  the  way-side. 

After  the  publication  of  his  article,  Mrs.  Hollis 
and  myself  invited  Mr.  Corry  to  examine  the  phe- 
nomena, which  were  now  beginning  to  challenge  so 
much  public  attention.  Mr.  Corry  is  a  cool,  deliberate 
man,  with  very   little   ''speculation    in    his  eyes"  or 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


342  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

conversation.  Still  he  is  not  a  bigot,  and,  in  this  par- 
ticular, is  unlike  Reerhelin.  He  is  a  progressionist, 
but  moves  slowly.  "Be  patient!"  is  the  axiom  around 
which  his  whole  system  of  philosophy  revolves.  He 
seems  to  move  only  on  compulsion,  if  his  understand- 
ing is  not  clear.  Nature  never  designed  this  man  for 
a  leader — though  he  is  a  brave  thinker.  .  He  can 
plan  a  fight  well,  but  will  lose  the  battle  by  tardy 
movement. 

Mr.  Corry  consented  to  join  Mr.  Plimpton  in  the 
further  investigation  of  spirit  phenomena,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Mrs.  Hollis  ;  and  while  these  two  gentlemen 
are  prosecuting  their  researches,  I  will  record  the 
results  of  a  few  seances  given  to  other  well-known 
citizens. 

On  the  1 2th  of  September,  Mr.  Charles  Graham, 
Mrs.  Mary  Graham,  and  their  son  *'  Freddie,"  entered 
the  cabinet-room  to  witness  manifestations.  The  in- 
terior of  the  cabinet  was  first  carefully  examined, 
and  then  Mrs.  Hollis's  right-hand  was  blackened 
with  burnt-cork  before  she  went  in.  The  door  had 
scarcely  been  closed  upon  her,  when  a  large  hand  and 
arm  seized  the  pencil,  and  wrote  on  the  slate  : 

^'  We  will  give  you  uncommonly  good  manifestations  to- 
night !     A  large  number  of  spirits  will  a[5pear  !" 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  writing,  the  pencil  drop- 
ped, and  the  hand  was  held  open,  with  the  palm  to 
the  front,  for  inspection.  It  was  a  clean  right-hand, 
almost  transparent,  without  any  trace  of  burnt-cork 
to  be  seen.  I  could  not  desire  a  more  conclusive 
test  to  prove  the  materialization  of  a  spirit-hand.  It 
was  certainly   not    more  than    ten  seconds  after  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  343 

door  was  closed,  that  the  clean  hand  appeared.  Only 
half  a  minute  after  the  writing,  a  brilliantly  illumi- 
nated head  and  face  of  a  lady  were  so  clearly  seen 
at  the  aperture,  that  the  color  of  the  eyes  and 
hair  could  easily  be  distinguished.  Her  dark-brown 
hair  was  looped  up  Pompadour,  with  a  cherry-colored 
ribbon.  It  was  the  sweet  face  of  my  cousin,  Lizzie 
Odell,  who  had  appeared  several  times  before.  When 
she  left  the  aperture,  the  matured  face  of  a  woman 
appeared,  whom  Mrs.  Graham  recognized  as  her  sister, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Parker.  The  spirit  bowed,  and  retired. 
Very  soon  the  curtain  was  again  drawn  aside,  to  show 
the  face  and  head  of  Robert  Graham,  a  sturdy  old 
man,  who  was  at  once  recognized  by  his  son  Charles. 
This  materialization  lasted  two  minutes,  during  which 
time  father  and  son  saluted  each  other  by  words  and 
bows.  My  mother  next  appeared,  but  only  for  a  few 
seconds,  though  a  good  materialization,  when  she  was 
quickly  followed  by  the  head  and  face  of  a  young 
girl,  who  was  immediately  recognized  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Graham  as  a  long-buried  daughter.  Following  the 
fading- out  of  this  face,  were  presented  two  baby 
hands  and  arms,  partly  projected  through  the  aperture. 
These  had  scarcely  been  withdrawn,  when  the  fa- 
miliar but  sweet  face  oi^Katie  Kerns,  the  medium's 
sister,  came  fully  in  view,  and  maintained  a  good  ma- 
terialization for  fottj'  minutes.  The  next  face  pre- 
sented was  a  strongly  individualized  one,  whom  Mrs. 
Graham  instantly  recognized  as  her  half-sister,  Mrs. 
Celia  Rix,  saying,  as  she  did  so,  "There  is  no  mis- 
taking that  face!"  Immediately  after  she  had  retired, 
Washington's  face    came  forward    to  the    light,   and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


344  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

remained  a  minute.  He  had  scarcely  retired  when  tlie 
long,  muscular  arm  of  Ney  was  projected  through  the 
aperture,  holding  iii  his  hand  a  spirit-painting  or  por- 
trait of  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  This  I  was  permitted 
to  closely  inspect.  I  am  not  an  art-critic,  and  know 
little  beyond  the  foct  that  when  a  painting,  no  matter 
whether  it  is  a  portrait  or  a  landscape,  pleases  me,  I 
say  so.  This  picture  of  Napoleon  pleased  me.  It 
was  most  exquisitely  colored— the  flesh-tints  being 
soft,  natural,  and  life-like.  I  inspected  it  closely  for 
^"^^  minutes  before  it  was  withdrawn.  On  a  subse- 
quent occasion  this  portrait  was  presented,  when  I 
examined  it  with  a  lighted  stearine  candle,  wbich  I 
held  not  more  than  six  inches  from  it. 

The  face  of  an  elderly  woman  followed  the  with- 
drawal of  the  portrait,  which  Mrs.  Graham  recognized 
as  her  mother.  The  light  was  good,  and  the  ma- 
terialization faultlessly  presented.  Following  this  one 
was  the  bright,  smiling  face  of  little  Anna  Hancock  ; 
after  which,  that  of  a  negro  girl,  by  the  name  of 
Caroline,  who  had  been  an  attached  servant  to  the 
medium.  Her  color  was  that  of  a  quadroon.  She 
had  barely  retired,  when  the  face  and  head  of  Joseph- 
ine Bonaparte  appeared,  her  dark  hair  strangely  ar- 
ranged with  strings  of  pearls.  She  remained  per- 
fectly materialized  four  minutes.  After  she  had  re- 
tired, Mr.  Buchanan  and  Mr.  Douglas  presented 
themselves  several  times  at  the  aperture.  They  were 
quickly  followed  by  a  lady's  face,  which  Mr.  Graham 
pronounced  to  be  his  sister-in-law,  *' Jessie."  -  This 
spirit  remained  three  minutes  at  the  aperture,  and 
nodded  several  times  to  Mr.  Graham. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  345 

Jim  Nolan  now  spoke  at  the  aperture,  thanking 
us  for  the  conditions  that  had  enabled  so  many  good 
materializations  to  be  made.  They  had  exceeded  all 
preceding  efforts  in  number  and  completeness  of 
detail  He  then  projected  his  arm  into  the  room, 
waving  a  spirit-handkerchief  for  several  minutes. 
This  closed  the  seance. 

This  circle  was  distinguished  for  the  number  of 
materializations  that  had  taken  place,  being  no  less 
than  sixteen,  six  of  which  were  the  recognized  friends 
of  Mr.  Graham  and  his  wife. 

The  same  parties,  with  Mr.  J.  A.  Tyler,  of  New- 
port, Ky.,  formed  a  circle,  a  week  after.  Mrs.  HoUis 
was  in  the  cabinet  only  a  minute  or  two,  when  a 
jeweled  hand  appeared,  holding  a  flower,  which  looked 
like  a  camellia  or  japonica.  The  light  was  sufficient 
for  a  most  critical  inspection  ;  still,  I  availed  myself 
of  the  privilege  of  examining  it  with  a  candle.  It 
remained  perfect  for  a  minute,  when  it  began  to  fade. 
I  then  placed  my  hand  in  front  of  the  light,  throwing 
its  shadow  upon  the  flower,  which  enabled  it  to  revive 
somewhat ;  at  least,  the  shadow  would  arrest  its  decline. 
But  for  the  complete  renewal  of  its  form  and  beauty, 
it  was  withdrawn  to  the  interior  of  the  cabinet;  it 
would  soon  appear  fresh-looking  and  perfect  again. 
This  process  of  renewal  was  repeated  ^^^^  times,  and 
the  last  time  green  leaves  were  added  to  the  stem 
upon  which  the  flower  was  supported.  My  attention 
during  this  exhibition,  was  about  equally  divided  be- 
tween the  flower  and  the  beautiful  arm  and  hand  of 
the  spirit  sustaining  it.  Both  were  inspected  closely, 
and  both  claimed  an  equal  share  of  admiration, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


346  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

The  next  materialization  was  a  pond-lily,  so  per- 
fect in  its  size,  form,  and  constituent  parts,  that  I 
almost  fancied  I  sensed  its  perfume.  I  examined 
this  flower  with  the  same  care  I  did  the  first,  and  had 
ample  time  to  satisfy  myself  that  the  material  from 
which  it  was  formed  was  not  the  same  we  find  in  the 
natural  flower.  This  floral  exhibition  was  closed  by 
Josephine  waving  a  spirit-handkerchief,  as  if  self- 
applauding  the  success  of  the  manifestations. 

Scarcely  Imd  the  handkerchief  been  withdrawn, 
when  a  face  appeared  at  the  aperture,  which  Mr.  Gra- 
ham identified  as  Betsy  Parker.  Then  followed,  at 
intervals  of  a  few  minutes  each,  the  presentation  of 
Lizzie  Odell,  an  unrecognized  ladyj  a  little  boy,  and 
Mrs.  Sarah  Rix  ;  which  latter  spirit  was  immedi- 
ately recognized  by  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Graham. 
Following  closely  in  the  order  of  time,  two  faces  of 
children  appeared,  which  their  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Graham,  recognized  as  Walter  and  Emma. 

For  the  first  time  was  now  presented  a  perfect 
and  full  materialization  of  the  head  and  face  of  Elwood 
Fisher.  This  spirit  had  made  several  attempts  to 
show  himself  to  his  friend  Mr.  Corry,  but  never  with 
entire  success.  Mr.  Corry's  anxiety,  I  think,  was  the 
cause  of  his  failure.  He.  now  materialized  in  good 
light,  and  maintained  his  form  a  minute  and  a  half 
This  face  of  Elwood  Fisher  is  a  remarkable  one, 
evincing  power  and  will  of  an  uncommon  degree. 
He  has  an  immense  head  and  ponderous  brow,  much 
like  Webster^s  ;  and  yet  the  face  reminded  me  more 
of  John  C.  Breckenridge's. 

After   Elwood    Fisher  had    retired,    several    faces 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


347 


appeared,  which  were  recognized  as  sphits  that  had 
manifested  before;  and  when  a  lady's  appeared,  and 
nodded  to  Mr,  Tyler,  she  responded  to  the  name  of 
Sarah  Parish.  After  her,  Mr.  Tyler's  wife  came  to 
the  aperture  and  remained  long  enough  for  complete 
recognition.  She  subsequently  wrote  a  letter  to  her 
husband,  on  private  affairs,  which  gave  him  much 
satisfaction. 

Following  this  spirit,  very  soon,  came  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan. He  maintained  his  materialization  so  lono- 
and  firmly,  that  I  had  time  to  fetch  an  autograph 
letter,  framed  and  hanging  in  the  east  room.  I 
handed  it  to  him,  and  asked  if  he  remembered 
writing  it.  He  received  it  from  my  hand,  and  with- 
drew about  half  a  minute.  When  he  reappeared,  the 
view  of  his  face  zvas  changed  from  a  fj II  front  to  a 
p7^ofile.  He  held  the  letter  before  him,  as  if  reading. 
Perhaps  a  minute  elapsed,  when  he  retired,  and  al- 
most instantly  reappeared,  full  front  face,  handing  me 
the  letter.  As  he  did  this,  he  said,  audibly,  ''\  re- 
member it  very  well,  Wolfe  ;  it  is  a  letter  of  introduc- 
tion to  Forney  !" 

This  manifestation  of  Mr.  Buchanan  will  arrest 
the  investigating  mind  by  its  more  than  common  in-= 
terest  and  significance.  It  will  be  noticed  that  tzvo 
views  of  his  face  were  presented  ;  and  yet  he  could 
not  rotate  his  head,  to  do  this,  in  the  light.  I  have 
seen  the  spirits  change  position  during  their  appear- 
ance, but  not  to  turn  round.  To  the  charge  that  these 
faces  are  flat,  these  materializations  of  Mr.  Buchanan 
are  sufficient  refutation.  The  letter  was  evidently 
read  by  Mr.  Buchanan,  for  he  announced  audibly  its 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


348  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

character.  The  materialization  was  one  of  the  best 
I  have  seen,  and,  with  one  exception,  the  speaking 
as  good  as  any  I  have  heard. 

After  Mr.  Buchanan  retired,  Mr.  Douglas,  Mrs, 
Jessie  Graham,  Mr.  Robert  Graham,  David  Wolfe, 
and  Catherine  Holliday  appeared,  seriatim.  This 
latter  spirit  identified  herself  to  Mr.  Tyler,  as  being 
from  Natchez,  Miss.  He  i-emembered  her  well,  after 
she  referred  to  corroborating  circumstances.  This 
closed  the  exhibition  of  faces  for  the  evening.  The 
remainder  of  the  time  was  consumed  by  writing  mes- 
sages, on    the    slate,  to  Mr.  Tyler  and    Mr.  Graham. 

^\\Q,, seance  was  remarkable — eighteen  spirits  hav- 
ing materialized,  besides  the  flowers,  hands,  arms, 
and  writing.  It  lasted  two  hours,  and  left  Mrs.  Hollis 
very  much  exhausted. 

September  14th  was  set  apart  for  Mr.  Co.rry  and 
Mr.  Plimpton  to  hold  a  dark  circle;  but  Mr.  Corry  not 
appearing,  it  was  decided  to  change  the  programme 
for  the  evening,  and  have  a  cabinet  circle,  with  Mr. 
Plimpton  and  my  whoie  family  present.  The  evening 
was  quite  inclement ;  so  we  expected  but  indifferent 
manifestations. 

It  was  not  five  minutes  after  Mrs.  Hollis  was 
closed  in,  when  the  spirit-hands  began  to  appear  at 
the  aperture.  These  varied  in  size  ;  one,  especially, 
was  noticeably  large.  This  was  Marshal  Ney's,  and 
seemed  to  possess  more  power  than  any  of  the  others. 
I  asked  if  it  could  leave  its  impression  in  a  plate  of 
flour,  if  I  placed  one  on  the  bracket.  The  reply,  by 
raps,  was,  **  Yes."  I  filled  an  oblong  steak-dish  with 
flour,  and  set  it  before  the  aperture,  sideways.      This 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM, 


349 


position  was  not  favorable^  to  receive  a  good  impres- 
sion. The  spirit-hand  changed  the  position  of  the 
dish,  and  commenced  a  kind  of  magnetic  manipulation 
over  the  surface  of  the  flour,  which  lasted  several  min- 
utes. It  then  retired  for  a  dark-bath,  but  in  a  few 
moments  appeared  again,  and  settled  on  the  dish, 
till  the  hand  and  fingers  were  buried  in  the  flour.  It 
remained  there  half  a  minute,  when  it  rose,  carefully, 
to  a  vertical  position,  exposing  the  whole  palm-surface 
of  the  hand  to  view.  It  was  thickly  coated  with  the 
adhering  flour,  not  dust,  but  thick  spread,  as  if  the  hand 
had  first  been  wet.  The  flour  began  to  dribble  off,  be- 
ginning at  the  points  of  the  fingers,  and  wasting  toward 
the  base  of  the  hand.  The  remarkable  character  of 
this  manifestation  was,  that  the  fingers  and  hand 
wasted  as  the  flour  fell  away,  the  same  as  if  they  had 
been  formed  of  snow,  and  melted  under  the  heat  of  a 
midday  sun.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  seance,  there 
was  not  a  hand  in  the  circle  that  could  fill  th$  well- 
preserved  matrix  in  the  flour  ;  and  Mrs  HoUis's  hand 
could  very  little  more  than  half  fill  it.  I  requested 
Mrs.  Hollis  to  leave  the  impression  of  her  hand  in  a 
plate  of  fiour,  and  the  two  compared  about  as  well  as 
a  lady's  slipper  and  an  Irishman's  brogan.  Following 
this  experiment,  Lizzie  Odell  appeared,  with  her  hair 
very  tastefully  secured  with  the  usual  light  cherry 
ribbon,  and,  after  smiling  and  bowing,  retired,  to  make 
room  for  the  sweet  but  pensive  face  of  Mary  Plimp- 
ton. There  was  a  bright  light  about  her  head,  which 
at  first  was  mistaken  for  lace  ;  a  closer  inspection, 
however,  discovered  it  to  be  a  spirit-halo.  She  could 
only  materialize  about  thirty  seconds. 

32 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


3 so  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

In  this  connectioiiy  this  seems  to  be  a  good  time 
and  place  to  say  something  on  the  subject  of  cabinet 
and  writing  conditions.  I  have  observed  that  any 
mental  or  emotional  excitement  among  the  members 
of  a  circle  has  a  tendency  to  disturb  or  destroy  the 
conditions  through  which  the  spirits  manifest.  As 
in  the  case  of  Elwood  Fisher,  he  has  never,  in  all  his 
efforts,  been  able  to  materialize  fully  in  the  presence 
of  Mr.  Corry  ;  but  in  the  presence  of  my  family,  or  in 
the  presence  of  Mr.  Vickers,  and  others,. he  has  ma- 
terialized well.  Is  it  because  Mr.  Corry  wants  to  see 
him,  that  he  can  not  do  it  t  We  can  see  the  effect  of 
one  positive  man's  will  over  another  who  is  mag- 
netically negative  to  him,  but  do  not  understand  just 
how  it  is.  In  this  instance,  the  will  to  assist  seems 
to  produce  the  opposite  effect  intended,  disabling 
rather  than  aiding  the  efforts  of  the  spirits. 

I  am  quite  aware  how  much  incredulity  this  state- 
ment may  excite  in  the  mind  of  an  inexperienced 
reader  ;  but  the  fact  remains,  and  will  compel  us  to 
recognize  it  at  last.  But  few  people  have  any  proper 
appreciation  of  the  delicacy  of  the  conditions  through 
which  manifestations  are  given.  These  can  be  so 
disturbed  by  the  most  trifling  and  seemingly  incon- 
sequential circumstances  and  causes,  that  the  spirits 
can  no  more  manifest  through  them  than  they  could 
in  a  slaughter-house  or  distillery.  I  have  heard  the 
spirits  command  Mrs.  Hollis,  peremptorily,  to  wash 
every  bit  of  pearl-powder  from  her  face,  whe«  she  had 
been  silly  enough  to  **  whiten  up"  to  receive  company, 
alleging  that  they  could  not  give  manifestations  while 
her  skin   was  pasted   over   with  such  trash.     She  is 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  351 

also  required  to  keep  her  hair  loosely  clone  up,  en- 
tirely free  from  oil  or  perfume  of  any  kind.  The 
odors  of  some  flowers  are  odious  to  the  conditions ; 
and  a  hankerchief,  rank  with  the  extract  of  pole-cat 
or  frangipanni,  will  so  stifle  the  spirits,  that  they  are 
quite  incapable  of  manifesting.  A  camphor  and  chlo- 
roform liniment  applied  to  a  strained  ankle  in  the 
morning  will  unfit  the  medium  for  manifestations  in 
the  evening.  A  drop  of  on  ion -juice  or  touch  of  as- 
afetida  upon  the  frame  of  the  slate  will  disable  spirits 
from  writing.  So,  also,  the  presence  of  some  persons 
with  repulsive  magnetisms  and  discordant  minds  will 
utterly  unfit  the  medium  for  the  delicate  uses  of  the 
spirit-world.  The  spirits  utterly  refuse  to  manifest 
in  the  presence  of  intoxicated  persons,  and  they  dis- 
like the  odor  of  tobacco.  It  may  now  be  understood 
why  the  spirits  will  manifest  much  better  in  the  pres- 
ence of  some  persons  than  they  can  in  that  of  others  ; 
and  also  why  the  experience  of  one  man  may  not  cor- 
roborate the  experience  of  another.  Opportunities  may 
be  similar,  but  conditions  as  varied  as  temperaments. 
It  follows  that,  mentally  and  physiologically,  men  may 
be  so  constituted  that  the  spirit-world  can  not  reveal 
itself  to  them.  Of  course,  they  can  no  more  help  their 
hapless  condition  than  the  leopard  his  spots,  or  the 
Ethiopian  his  skin.  Nature,  through  violated  physio- 
logical laws,  puts  her  stamp  of  disability  upon  some 
organizations,  so  that  they  may  commiseratingly  be 
called  ''cripples,"  and  treated  as  such,  when  they 
essay  to  deal  with  spiritual  affairs.  A  monstrosity  of 
this  kind,  to  make  his  deformity  the  more  obtrusive, 
wanted   to  bet  five   hundred  dollars  that   the  spirits 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


352  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

could  not  manifest  in  bis  presence  !  I  think  it  a  safe 
bet;  and  the  rascal,  with  as  much  certainty,  knows  he 
"vvould  win,  as  if  he  were  playing  with  loaded  dice. 

But  to  return  to  the  point  of  digression.  Mary 
Plimpton  had  left  the  aperture  but  a  few  minutes, 
when  the  following  spirits  appeared,  in  the  order  of 
naming:  M.  D.  Potter,  James  Buchanan,  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  Mrs.  D.  P.  and  son,  Anna  Hancock,  Sarah 
Powers,  Josephine  Bonaparte,  ''Caroline/'  and  George 
Washington.  There  was  a  spirit  of  a  fair-haired  lady, 
who  could  not  be  recognized,  and  she  gave  no  name. 
Josephine  presented  the  same  portrait  of  Napoleon 
we  had  before  seen,  which  she  said  was  a  most  diffi-^ 
cult  materialization  to  accomplish.  Sarah  Powers 
wore  a  beautiful  red  flower  in  her  hair,  on  the  left 
side. 

The  remainder  of  the  evening  was  occupied  by 
the  spirits  writing  messages  to  their  friends.  Of 
these,  the  following  seems  to  be  the  only  one  possess- 
ing any  public  interest : 

"I  come  from  the  bright  land  of  peace  to  greet  you,  my 
friends !  Beyond  the  ken  of  mortal  eyes  I  liave  found  a  world 
of  wondrous  beauty.  There  I  am  no  longer  a  suffering  man, 
but  a  glorified  spirit.     All  is  well  with  me. 

''George  D.  Prentice." 

Mr.  Prentice  was  requested  to  state  his  feelings 
when  dying — whether  conscious  or  not }  In  reply 
he  wrote : 

"When  the  shadows  of  death  were  over  me,  my  breath, 
little  by  little,  sank  apace.  The  phantoms  of  destiny  gathered 
thick  and  fast  around  me.  I  felt,  like  a  limed  bird,  powerless 
to  arrest  my  doom — the  approach  of  the  dreaded  messenger. 
As  an  unworthy  servant  of  His  will,  I  prayed  God's  mercy; 
take  me  hence;  thy  will  be  done  forever." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  353 

Again,  as  soon  as  the  foregoing  message  was  tran* 
scribed,  Mr.  Prentice  was  asked  if  he  wished  to  say 
any  thing  more,  when  he  quickly  wrote  : 

''Farewell,  my  friends.  You  will  soon  walk  witli  me  the 
broad  road  of  progression.  Fear  not  the  clip  of  the  oar  that 
bears  you  o-ver  the  river  of  death,  for  it  brings  you  to  Ihe  lanvi 
of  peace.        •  George  D.  Prentice." 

This  concluded  a  very  interesting  seancey  which 
lasted  two  hours.  It  was  intended  to  hold  a  dark 
circle  during  the  evening ;  but,  as  stated,  Mr.  Corry 
not  appearing,  the  cabinet  entertainment  was  sub- 
stituted.      ' 

Mr.  Plimpton  and  Mr.  Corry  had  now  become 
deeply  interested  in  the  phenomena  which  they  day 
by  day  witnessed^  and  were  regular  and  constant  in 
their  attendance,  dividing  their  time  about  equally 
between  the  writing,  the  dark  circle,  and  the  cabinet 
manifestations.  I  made,  no  engagements  with  the 
public  for  seances  that  would  at  all  interfere  with  their 
investigations.  My  desire  was  to  afford  them  every 
facility  to  examine  the  premises,  and  to  assist  them  to 
discover  the  exact  means  Mrs.  Hollis  employed  to 
produce  these  wonderful  "  tricks." 

One  evening,  without  announcing  their  intention, 
these  gentlemen  introduced  Colonel  Donn  Piatt, 
the  well-known  writer  and  satirist,  as  an  investigator. 
I  requested  Colonel  Piatt  to  join  the  party  of  repre- 
sentative men,  and  give  the  subject  a  thorough  sifting  ; 
which  he  consented  to  do.  He  was  introduced  to 
Mrs.  Hollis,  who  became  so  much  agitated  that  I 
almost   despaired  of  the    success   of   the   circle  that 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


354  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

evening.  The  coloners  reputation  as  a  satirist  was 
a  great  bug-a-boo  to,  her. 

This  trio — Plimpton,  Corry,  and  Piatt— formed  an 
able  circle,  to  investigate  the  phenomena  and  discover 
fraud,  if  any  existed.  Neither  of  these  gentlemen  en- 
tertained friendly  views  of  spiritualism,  but  rather  a 
feeling  of  hostility,  believing,  as  thousands  do,  the 
whole  affair  to  be  a  cunningly  devised  system  of  de- 
ception. As  their  purpose  was  to  examine  the  phe- 
nomena for  public  use,  to  which  end  they  took  minutes 
of  that  which  transpired  in  their  presence,  I  will  in 
due  time  submit  their  personal  statements,  instead  of 
my  own,  respecting  the  results  of  their  investigation. 

I  will  here  report  the  occurrences  of  a  seance  \^\\vq\\ 
my  family  and  Mr.  Plimpton  witnessed,  a  few  evenings 
subsequent  to  the  holding  of  the  circle  just  reported. 

Mrs.  Hollis  had  been  closeted  but  a  few  minutes, 
when  a  strange  object  was  projected  about  six  inches 
through  the  cabinet  aperture  into  the  room.  After  a 
.  close  inspection,  it  proved  to  be  the  elbow  of  a  flexed 
arm.  It  remained  in  this  position  about  a  minute, 
when  the  whole  arm  was  suddenly  extended  into  the 
i-oom.  The  arm  was  symmetrically  formed,  and  al- 
most transparent ;  of  a  delicate  rose-tint,  and  entirely 
nude.  It  remained  four  minutes  before  it  was  with- 
drawn, and  then  only  to  reappear,  after  a  few  seconds, 
covered  with  a  sleeve  of  white  tulle  or  illusion.  This 
remained  on  exhibition  a  minute,  when;  presto!  the 
arm  retired,  and  reappeared,  in  a  few  seconds,  dressed 
in  a  rich  black  silk  over  the  first,  the  white  protruding 
an  inch  or  two  from  under  it  at  the  hand.  Different 
positions  were  now  given  to  the  arm  and  hand,  which, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  355 

to  an  artist's  eye,  would  have  been  deemed  exquisitely 
graceful.  The  manifestation  continued  three  minutes, 
when  the  arm  was  withdrawn,  and  quickly  reappeared, 
clad  in  a  green  silk  wrapper,  fitting  more  closely  than 
the  black  sleeve,  and  in  the  hand  was  held  a  phantom 
handkerchief,  which  was  waved,  like  "a  banner  of 
beauty,"  half  a  dozen  times  before  our  astonished  eyes. 
Another  transformation,  quickly  succeeding  the  last, 
was  the  substitution  of  black  lace  for  the  former  sleeve- 
making  materials;  the  handkerchief  still  being  re- 
tained in  the  hand.  Very  soon  the  arm  was  divested 
of  all  covering,  and,  as  at  first,  extended  into  the  room. 
The  hand  opened  and  shut  rapidly,  making  an  *' awful 
fist"  for  a  woman.  If  William  Horace  Lingard  had 
been  a  woman,  and  in  the  spirit-world,  I  would  have 
ascribed  this  transformation  entertainment  to  his 
genius;  but  as  he  is  neither  a  woman  nor  ''dead,'' 
so  far  as  I  know,  unless  it  be  in  "  trespasses  and 
sins,"  the  show  was  a  trifle  mysterious. 

It  was  only  a  few  minutes  after,  that  the  same 
comely  hand  held  by  the  stem  a  beautiful,  pure 
white,  and  strangely  shaped  flower,  resembling  in 
size  and  form  a  **  Spring  sparrow,  with  wings  ex- 
tended." The  leaves  seemed  vibrant  with  life,  and  I. 
almost  fancied  I  could  hear  the  hum  of  their  tiny  mo- 
tion on  the  still  air.  Our  inspection  of  this  ''  gem  " 
continued  about  three  minutes. 

The  next  materialization  was  a  spirit-lily.  This 
was  much  admired,  as  it  is  always  a  graceful  beauty ; 
and  on  this  occasion  every  part  of  its  structure  was 
perfectly  presented.  Following  this  was  a  cluster 
of  violets  and  a  purple  morning-glory.      These  were 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


356  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

followed  by  a  delicate-pink  flower,  resembling  in  shape 
the  blossom  of  the  Virginia  creeper.  All  of  these  were 
iiicely  materialized,  and  strangely  beautiful  The  next 
flower  presented  was  a  rose,  about  twice  the  size  of 
our  jacqueminot — colorless  and  phantom-like.  The 
last  single  .flower  presented  was  a  huge  pond-lily, 
which  filled  the  entire  aperture  of  the  cabinet.  It 
was  the  most  imposing  representation  of  the  floral 
kingdom  displayed  during  the  evening. 

Itvvas  followed  by  a  vase  filled  with  flowers.  This 
was  held  in  the  left-hand  of  the  spirit,  while,  with  the 
right,  the  flowers  were  picked  out  one  at  a  time,  pre- 
sented to  our  view  for  inspection,  and  again  replaced. 
This  was  a  most  interesting  ceremony  to  witness. 

As  a  fitting  finale  to  this  entertainment,  little 
Anna  Hancock  first  showed  her  smiling  face,  then 
her  little  hands  filled  with  rosebuds.  This  floral  ex- 
hibition was  followed  by  the  materialization  of  a 
number  of  faces,  among  which  were  Anna  P.,  Katie 
Kerns,  my  niother,  and  sister  Emma  Francis — the 
two  latter  at  the  same  instant.  When  they  appeared, 
both  were  in  profile— mother  being  nearest  the  aper- 
ture. That  which  I  deemed  noteworthy  in  these 
materializations  was  that  sister's  face  was  the  most 
brilliantly  illuminated,  though  most  remote  from  the 
light  in  the  room.  Subsequently  I  was  informed  that 
the  power  to  illuminate  varies  as  much  as  tempera- 
ments in  the  form.  All  spirits  can  materialize,  but 
all  can  not  illuminate.  This  was  a  new  thought. 
My  mother  spoke  twice  while  at  the  aperture,  pro- 
nouncing distinctly  first  my  name,  then  my  nephew's. 
After     they    had    retired,    Mary    Plimpton    gave     a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  357 

prolonged  and  beautiful  materialization,  frequently  nod- 
ding to  her  brother,  but  unable  to  speak.  After  her, 
Mr.  Potter,  of  the  Commercial,  and  Lizzie  Odell,  ap- 
peared ;  which  closed  the  sea7ice.  Mrs.  Hollis  was 
then  liberated  after  a  two-hours'  confinement  in  her 
prison-house  ;  and  as  she  came  out,  I  could  not  help 
scrutinizing  her  closely  to  discern,  if  possible,  where 
and  how  she  concealed  about  her  person  the  many 
flowers  and  delicate  fabrics  which  had  been  so  hand- 
somely presented  through  the  aperture. 

The  weather  was  warm,  and  Mrs.  Hollis  wore  a 
thin  dress  ;  not  even  a  stuffed  ''  bustle,"  or  *' pannier," 
wherein  such  articles  as  we  had  seen,  could  have  been 
kept.  I  employed  a  lady  detective — a  room-mate  of 
the  medium — to  discover  the  hiding-place  of  her 
*'  traps,"  and  promised,  as  a  reward  of  her  success,  an 
"Antwerp  silk;"  but  even  that  did  not  bring  a  satis- 
factory reply.  The  answer  was,  unless  she  swallowed 
them,  there  was  no  other  cunning  place  of  conceal- 
ment. 

33 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


358  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

COLONEL  PIATT  REPORTS— HAS  TEIE  FUN  KNOCKED 
OUT  OF  HIM— DISCOVERS  SOMETLIING  TOO  SACRED 
FOR  HALSTEAD,  THE  "BRUTE,"  TO  TRAMPLE  ON— 
HE  SAND-PAPERS  HALSTEAD'S  NOSE,  AND  DRAWS 
"BLUD." 

COLONEL  DON  PIATT  was  the  second  mem- 
ber of  the  representative  circle  to  make  his  re- 
port to  the  public,  through  the  columns  of  his  Wash- 
ington paper,  The  Capital.  It  will  be  seen  that  this 
brilliant  writer,  humorist,  and  satirist,  began  his  in- 
vestigation of  spirit-phenomena,  as  Mr.  Plimpton  had, 
under  the  belief  that  Mrs.  Hollis  was  an  impostor, 
I  her  confederate,  and  the  manifestations  a  fraud. 
Of  course,  they  had  predetermined  the  whole  affair. 
Their  intention  was  to  make  an  azvful  example  of 
somebody,  as  soon  as  somebody  was  discovered  trying 
to  impose  upon  the  credulity  of  the  people. 

The  announcement  of  this  intention  did  not  scare 
or  surprise  me  in  the  least.  I  knew  my  men  better 
than  they  knew  me.  I  was  well  aware  there  was  no 
fraud  intended  ;  and  that  I  would  rather  assist  in 
exposing  trickery  than  aid  in  concealing  it.  If  any 
man  denounced  me  on  suspicion,  I  would  treat 
him  as  a  poltroon  and  calumniator.  The  peer  of 
any   good   citizen,  why  should   I   accept  affronts,  or 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  359 

be  subject  to  insults,  for  presuming  to  investigate 
the  claims  of  modern  spiritualism,  any  more  than  I 
should  be  for  exercising  the  same  right  in  making 
choice  of  a  religion  ? 

I  invited  investigation,  that  the  public  might  ob- 
tain, through  representative  men,  reliable  information 
respecting  the  facts  of  modern  spiritualism.  To  the 
prosecution  of  this  object  Colonel  Piatt  gave  eight 
days,  devoting  seven  hours  each  day  to  the  study  of 
its  phenomena.  The  time  was  not  sufficient  to  wit- 
ness a  tenth  part  of  what  I  hav^e  seen  ;  but  he  could 
spare  no  more.  He  saw  enough,  however,  publicly 
to  acquit  the  medium  of  fraud  ;  and  of  his  humor  and 
jesting  he  says,  '*A11  this  ends  when  a  coffin-lid  is 
lifted  from  a  loved  face;  and,  after  many  years  of 
longing  grief,  the  well-remembered  features  return 
to  us." 

The  following  is  the  published  statement  of  Col- 
onel Piatt,  dated  Cincinnati,  September  25,  1872: 

AMONG  THE   SPIRITS. 

I  WAS  silting  ill  the  editorial  room  of  the  Commercial^  talk- 
ing to  one  of  its  versatile  editors,  who  answers  to  the  name  of 
Plimpton,  and  vvlio  ought  to  be  known  throughout  ihe  country 
as  one  of  our  most  accomplished  journahsts,  and  who  is  known 
to  a  wide  circle  of  friends  as  the  best  sort  of  a  fellow,  when 
William  M.  Corry,  late  of  the  Commoner  and  Kentucky  Reso- 
lutions, and  now  for  all  time  the  most  brilliant  conversationalist 
ever  endowed  with  breath,  came  in,  and  immediately  opened  a 
conversation  concerning  a  message  that  he  had  received  the 
night  before  from  his  grandfather,  long  since  deceased  and 
quite  forgotten.  This  message,  it  seems,  came  in  the  shape  of 
advice,  directing  William  to  drop  the  Commoner  and  stick  to 
bricks.  This  was  certainly  good  sense,  and  showed  that  the 
grandfather's  head  was  level,  if  not  brilliant.  I  thought  the 
gentlemen  were  joking,  and  put  in  my  little  jest  accordingly. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


360  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

There  has  always  been  something  exlremely  kidicroiis  to  me  in 
tlie  spiriUial  business.  At  best,  it  seemed  a  sort  of  rat-hole 
revehition  and  an  unseemly  attack-  on  furniture.  I  liad  known 
the  little  Foxes  at  an  early  day,  when  they  were  quite  pietly, 
plump  as  partridges,  and  as  full  of  the  animal  as  they  claimed 
to  be  of  spirits.  Through  these  little  girls,  we  used  to  inter- 
view St.  Paul  and  Julius  Caesar.  They  were  both  represented 
to  me  as  small  men,  with  bald  heads  and  hooked  noses.  Julius 
had  a  good  deal  of  a  stomach  on  him,  which  came,  I  suppose, 
on  account  of  his  unbounded  ambition;  at  least,  that  is  what 
Qneen  Catherine  said  of  Cardinal  Wolsey.  I  soon  discovered, 
however,  that  my  two  friends  were  in  earnest,  and  not  in  a 
frame  of  mind  suited  to  joking.  They  went  on  to  tell  me, 
first  one,  and  (ben  the  other,  of  the  wonderful  things  they 
had  witnessed  at  a  Dr.  Wolfe's,  on  Smith  Street,  in  the  presence 
of  a  medium,  called  Mrs.  Hollis,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  I 
was,  of  course,  interested;  and,  when  invited  to  accompany 
them  that  night  to  a  seance  at  the  house  of  said  Wolfe,  under 
the  direction  of  the  said  female  medium,  I  readily  assented. 

At  eight  o'clock,  we  were  at  the  house  of  the  doctor,  a 
charming  residence  on  Smith  Street,  just  out  of  Fo.urth.  I 
was  introduced  to  Mrs.  Hollis,  quite  a  handsome,  dark-eyed 
brunette,  weighing  about  a  hundred  and  forty,  and  some  thirty- 
five  or  forty  years  of  age.  Like  the  little  Foxes,  she  is  per- 
sonally attractive;  but,  unlike  my  former  mediums,  I  found  her 
quiet  and  unassuming,  and  rather  diffident.  Aside  from  her 
personal  attractions,  the  chief  characteristic  that  impressed  me 
was  the  exceedingly  frank  and  honest  expression  of  her  f^\ce. 
A  judge  of  human  nature  would  dismiss  all  suspicion  of  fraud, 
after  taking  one  good  look  at  her  kind,  gentle  countenance. 

We  were  at  once  conducted  through  a  long  porch  to  the 
rear  building,  where,  between  the  library  and  laboratory,  the 
doctor  had  erected  for  Mrs.  Hollis  what  was  called  the  cabinet. 
It  consisted  of  a  partition  run  across  one  end  of  the  small  room, 
in  the  center  of  which  was  a  door,  and  in  the  center  of  the  door 
a  circular  opening  twelve  inches  in  diameter  and  about  four  feet 
from  tl  e  floor.  This  aperture  was  covered  with  black  cloth,  while 
on  the  outside  lay  a  slate  with  a  minute  slate-pencil  upon  it. 
The  doctor  made  us  examine  the  walls  and  floor  to  satisfy 
ourselves  that  there  was  no  machinery  about,  while  in  the  cabinet 
there  was  nothing  but  a  common  chair.     Into  this  cabinet  went 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  36 1 

Mrs.  Hollis  ;  but,  before  so  doing,  the  doctor  blackened  the 
pahii  of  her  right-hand.  The  door  was  closed,  fastened  on  the 
outside,  and  we  then  sat  down  to  the  rattle  of  a  large  music- 
box  that  had  borne  about  as  much  music  in  it  as  a  lin-pan 
covering  an  insane  bug.  The  gas-light  shone  through  in  a 
dim  way  from  the  adjoining  rooms  on  either  side,  and  we  sat 
watching  that  dark  spot  upon  the  door,  like  three  terriers  gazing 
into  a  rat-hole.  In  about  ten  minutes,  a  delicate,  white  hand 
appeared,  that  seemed  to  waver  and  flicker  before  us  and  then 
disappear.  As  it  went  down,  it  seemed  to  melt  into  darkness. 
Directly  the  hand  came  back,  and  ngain  went  out  as  before. 
The  third  or  fourth  time,  it  seemed  to  grow  steadier,  reached 
out,  seized  the  pencil,  and  wrote  something  with  easy  rapidity. 
It  then  opened  so  as  to  show  the  white  palm,  and  disappeared. 
The  doctor  seized  the  slate,  and  we  all  rushed  into  the  other 
room  to  read  this  message  from  the  spirit- world.  It  was  to  the 
effect  tiiatsome  fighting  character  felt  certain  that  he  could  whip 
somebody  a  second  time.  I  tliought  the  message  was  addressed 
to  me,  and  so  said,  with  the  opinion  to  the  ghost,  that  it  couldn't 
be  done;  but  it  turned  out  subsequently  to  have  been  addressed 
to  Mr.  Corry,  from  a  venerable  defunct,  who,  in  the  remote 
ages  of  Cincinnati,  had  thrashed  his  (WiUiam's)  grandtather, 
and,  unwilling  to  clasp  hands  over  the  bloody  chasm,  was  pre- 
pared to  fight  again. 

This  message,  with  the  subsequent  ones,  accorded  with  my 
sense  of  the  ludicrous,  and  I  quite  annoyed  my  friends  with  my 
levity.  After  receiving  four  or  five  messages,  a  luminous  ball, 
very  dim,  appeared  at  the  aperture,  grew  lighter,  resolved  itself 
into  ahead,  with  the  features  clearly  defined,  and,  for  a  second, 
gazed  at  us  from  the  opening.  Mr.  Plimpton  told  me  that  that 
was  his  sister  Mary,  dead  some  years,  and  was  very  striking  in  its 
resemblance.  After  this,  came  a  message  addressed  to  me, 
purporting  to  come  from  a  cousin  deceased  some  time  since  in 
Boone  County,  Kentucky.  Then  came  another  face,  appearing 
and  disappearing  like  the  other.  After  this,  we  saw  the  late 
President  of  the  United  States,  James  Buchanan,  that  was  so 
like  the  common  lithograph  head  of  the  old  Pub.  Func.  that  my 
sense  of  humor  grew  stronger  than  ever.  I  thouglit  that  if 
James  Buchanan,  dead  these  many  years,  had  only  got  so  far  as 
Smith  Street,  Cincinnati,  he  was  as  slow  in  the  spirit  as  he  used 
t)  be  in  the  flesh.     It  seems,  however,  that  Dr.  Wolfe  had,  at  one 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


362  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

time,  been  tlie  private  secretary  of  the  solemn  old  pump,  and 
through  life  quite  intimate  with  him;  so  that  his  appearance 
was  not  so  extraordinary  as  it  otherwise  would  have  been.  We 
then  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  Stephen 
came,  I  suppose,  because  Buchanan  did,  and  my  doubts  over- 
took my  fun  when  I  saw  tliat  tlie  bow  eacli  gave  in  response  to 
the  "good  evening"  of  Dr.  Wolfe,  was  precisely  that  which 
would  come  from  a  crayon  sketch  on  a  paste-board  if  the  upper 
end  were  dipped  forward  suddenly. 

I  had  made  up  my  mind  that  the  whole  affair  was  an  ingen- 
ious, innocent  sort  of  fraud,  when  the  luminous  appearance  at 
the  opening  resolved  itself  into  a  head  that  so  shocked  me,  that, 
for  a  second,  my  heart  seemed  to  stop  its  action.  I  was  so  sur- 
prised that,  for  a  second,  I  was  stunned,  and  my  first  feeling 
was  that  of  indignation  at  what  struck  me  as  a  wanton  outrage. 
This  was  not,  however,  well  defined,  and  the  moment  1  could 
reflect,  the  fact  forced  itself  upon  my  mind,  that  probably  1  had 
deceived  myself.  My  sight  is  quite  dim.  from  over-use,  and  I 
had  only  caught  a  glimpse  of  what  had  so  startled  me.  It  was 
too  sacred  a  subject  to  be  trifled  with,  and  I  determined  to  in- 
vestigate the  matter  closely,  and  if  1  found  any  fraud  in  the 
business,  to  make  an  example  of  one  medium,  at  least. 

The  face  appeared  but  once  afterward,  and  then  more  indis- 
tinct than  before  ;  so  that  nothing  was  given  me  upon  which  to 
solve  my  doubt.  I  had  enough,  however,  to  satisfy  me  that 
there  was  something  more  in  this  than  is  generally  attributed  to 
such  manifestations. 

To  tell  the  honest  truth,  I  had  gradually  settled  into  that 
unhappy  state  of  belief,  so  common  to  this  materialistic  age,  that 
we  possessed  nothing  in  the  way  of  spiritual  life  that  could  be 
administered  upon  after  death.  This  had  been  jammed  into  me 
by  being  knocked  on  the  head,  when  I  found,  by  actual  experi- 
ence, that  as  the  physical  ceased  to  operate,  that  part  of  me 
which  thinks,  wills,  and  remembers,  ceased  to  exist  also,  and  all 
was  blank  until  the  blood  began  to  circulate,  and  the  material 
engine  got  under  way  again.  For  thousands  and  thousands  of 
years  that  chin  of  death  has  been  tied  up,  and  the  napkin  folded 
over  the  mouth,  never  to  be  removed  by  any  message  from  the 
world  beyond.  So,  like  the  more  eminent  theologians  of  our 
day,  1  had  come  to  the  unpleasant  conviction  that  all  there  was 
of  it  we  could  feel,  taste,  hear,  smell,  and  see.    And  yet,  through 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  363 

this  rat-hole  came  what  purported  to  be  focts,  upsetting  my 
settled  opinions,  and  putting  me  all  at  sea  upon  this  subject. 

It  is  a  common  error  for  us  to  reject  a  truth  because  it  does 
not  come  to  us  in  a  dignified  and  imposing  manner.  All  the 
miracles  of  Christ  failed  to  overcome  the  disbelief  of  the  Jews, 
that  grew  out  of  the  melanclioly  fact  that  the  Messiah  had  come 
up  out  of  Nazareth,  and  had  been  born  in  a  manger.  Newton 
got  his  idea  of  a  great  law  from  the  falling  of  an  apple,  while 
Frankhn  wilh  his  kite  identified  the  lightning.  And  so  this 
startling  disclosure  of  a  great  trutli  is  as  likely  to  come  when 
least  expected,  in  an  obscure  wa}',  as  otliers  liave  done  before. 

With  tliis  spirit  of  skepticism,  and  with  no  belief  in  any  thing, 
not  even  myself,  I  entered  upon  this  investigation.  I  do  not 
propose  to  go  into  the  details  of  it,  for  others  are  at  work  upon 
them  ;  but  I  can  say  in  brief,  that  at  the  end  of  a  week,  in  which 
I  gave  from  five  to  eight  hours  daily  to  the  investigation,  I  was 
forced  to  the  conclusion  that  if  I  had  not  been  holding  inter- 
course with  the  dead,  I  had,  at  least,  been  in  communication 
with  a  mysterious  intelligence,  outside  the  humanity  subject  to 
the  laws  of  fiesh. 

Mrs.  Hollis  gave  me,  for  example,  a  seance  to  myself,  in 
which  I  was  to  receive  communications  in  writing.  I  repaired 
to  the  house  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  and,  in  broad  daylight,  we 
two  sat  down  by  a  small  tea-table,  over  wliich  the  medium  threw  a 
woolen  cover,  and,  giving  me  the  slate,  she  requested  me  to  ask 
any  question,  either  mentally,  or  to  write  it.  I  did  the  first. 
She  placed  the  slate  under  the  table,  and,  while  talking  about 
other  things,  held  it  there  with  her  right-hand.  By  means  of  a 
mirror  that  was  hung  accidentally  in  such  a  way  that  I  could  see 
her  entire  person,  I  noticed  that  her  left-hand  rested  in  her  lap. 
In  a  few  minutes  I  heard  the  pencil  drop  upon  the  slate,  and, 
bringing  it  out,  sure  enough,  I  found  written  upon  it  an  answer 
to  my  question.  This  continued  for  two  hours  and  a  half,  in 
which  time  I  asked  forty-one  questions,  and  received  the  same 
number  of  answers.  In  some  respects  these  were  not  satisfac- 
tory; tliat  is,  I  could  not  realize  that  the  person  who  purported 
to  be  in  communication  with  me  would  send  precisely  such 
messages.  They  were  answers,  and  they  were  reasonable,  but 
in  the  answers  I  could  not  feel  the  source  indicated.  There 
was  one  peculiarity  which  struck,  and  somewhat  annoyed  me. 
Every  question  I  asked  was  a  test,  while  nearly  every  answer 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


364  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

was  an  avoidance  of  the  test.  And  yet,  while  this  was  going 
on,  quite  unexpectedly,  and,  of  course,  unasked-for,  the  most 
conclusive  evidences  would  be  given. 

There  was  a  circumstance  that  occurred  that  amazed  me,  for 
it  was  so  unexpected.  I  had  written  a  message  upon  the  slate 
that  I  did  not  wish  the  medium  to  see  ;  and  so  turned  it  down, 
putting  the  pencil  upon  the  upper  side.  In  this  position  she 
placed  in  under  the  table.  We  heard  the  pencil  drop  directly, 
and,  fetching  out  the  slate,  found  no  writing.  Turning  it  over, 
however,  under  my  written  interrogatory  was  the  response.  The 
spirit  had  written  it  on  the  under-side  ;  and  the  medium  told  me 
of  a  fact  that  1  immediately  put  to  the  test — that  the  writing 
would  go  on  upon  the  upper  side,  with  the  slate  pressed  to  the 
bottom  of  tlie  table. 

The  most  striking  manifestations  were  made  in  the  dark,  when 
the  voices  of  the  spirits  became  audible  to  us.  The  spirit  whose 
face  1  had  seen — and,  by  the  by,  this  had  been  repeated  to  me  until 
there  could  be  no  question  about  the  resemblance,  at  least,  if 
not  the  identity;  for  I  had  procured  a  powerful  opera-glass  that 
revealed  to  me  the  very  color  of  the  eyes  and  hair — this  spirit 
whispered  to  me  long  messages  that  could  be  heard  by  others, 
which  fact  saved  me  from  the  doubt  as  to  whether  my  imagina- 
tion had  not  played  me  false.  But  the  most  striking  and  con- 
clusive manifestation  was  in  an  interview  between  Mr.  Corry 
and  his  former  friend,  Elwood  Fisher.  This  was  introduced  by 
the  medium  asking  if  any  one  knew  Elwood  Fisher,  and  giving 
a  description  of  his  personal  appearance.  Mr.  Corry  said  he 
would  be  glad  to  communicate  with  his  friend,  but  asked  for 
some  evidence  that  it  was  Elwood  Fisher  he  conversed  with. 
Elwood,  the  Friend,  then  began  : 

"  Does  thee  remember  the  little  store  on  Fifth  Street  ?" 

"  Yes,  very  well,"  responded  Corry. 

"  Does  thee  remember  the  first  time  thee  saw  me  there, 
sitting  on  the  counter  ?" 

"  Very  distinctly." 

''  Does  thee  remember  taking  me  to  thy  father,  who  expressed 
an  approbation  of  me  ?" 

"  I  reiuember  it  all." 

^'  Does  thee  remember  Daddy  Bassett,  with  his  long  queue, 
and  ruffled  shirts  ?" 

"  I  do ;  and  I  have  not  thought  of  him  these  thirty  years." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  365 

And  this  sort  of  thing  continued,  it  seemed  tome,  for  nearly 
an  hour — this  talk  of  the  two  friends  over  tlie  events  of  their 
lives,  in  which  ihe  one  from  the  spirit-land  sought  to  convince 
the  other  of  his  identity,  and  succeded,  beyond  doul3t.  While 
this  was  going  on,  Mrs.  Holhs  informed  me  that  quite  a  stout 
gentleman  was  examining  my  arm,  lately  twisted  in  a  buggy- 
wheel,  who  claimed  to  be  a  surgeon,  and  called  himself  Jesse 
Judkins.  She  described  him  as  a  merry  gentleman,  fond  of  his 
jest.  Poor  Jesse  !  no  truer  word  was  ever  said.  After  these 
whispered  communications,  that  we  were  assured  would  grow 
stronger,  and  become  more  distinct,  we  had  a  talk  with  Jimmy 
Nolan.  Jimmy  spoke  ri<;ht  out,  very  like  a  man  talking  through 
a  horn,  which  I  have  no  doubt  he  was  doing,  for  there  was  a 
tin  horn  in  ihe  room  ;  and  having  decided  that  the  medium  was 
honest,  this  strange,  hollow  voice,  speaking  to  us  in  a  familiar 
way,  with  ease  and  iluenc}^  had  a  very  strange  effect.  I  could 
not  help  asking  Jimmy,  however,  whether  Greeley  was  going  to 
be  our  next  President. 

"  That  I  can  not  answer,  sir  ;  and  you  know  as  much  about 
it  as  I  do.  I  can  only  say  that  he  seems  to  have  a  first-rate 
chance." 

I  wish  I  could  write  more  at  length  upon  this  interesting 
subject,  but  I  find  myself,  since  making  the  attempt,  shrinking 
from  the  task.  I  am  not  ashamed,  as  many  are,  of  my  experi- 
ences, or  afraid  to  avow  my  convictions;  but,  unfortunately  for 
my  testimony,  the  proof  came  to  me  in  a  shape  too  sacred  for 
common  use.  Dr.  Wolfe  had  invited  this  lady  to  his  house, 
after  what  I  understand  was  rather  an  unfortunate  experience 
as  a  medium,  at  Cincinnati,  for  the  purpose  of  calm,  careful  in- 
vestigation of  spiritualism  generally,  anti  this  lady's  power  and 
honesty  in  particular.  Of  all  the  i)rominent  men  invited  in  the 
city,  two  only  could  be  found  possessing  interest  enough  in  the 
subject  to  look  into  it  and  report  the  results  of  their  investiga- 
tion. I  happened,  accidentally,  to  make  a  third.  I  join  heartily 
in  the  report  which  says  that  the  medium  is  above  all  suspicion, 
and  I  can  add  my  conviction  that  the  intelligence  with  which 
we  communicated  was  beyond,  if  not  above,  the  experiences  of 
material  humanity.  D.  P. 

This  report  of  Colonel  Piatt  was  extensively  cir- 
culated through  the  press  of  the  country,  and  variously 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


366  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

commented  upon — not  always  with  commendation. 
Among  the  journalists  who  did  not  read  it  with  com- 
placent feelings,  Mr.  Halstead,  of  the  Cincinnati  Com- 
mercial, may  be  distinguished.-  This  man  exhibited 
so  much  zeal  and  ignorance  in  his  denunciation  of 
spirit  phenomena,  and  its  claims  to  public  confidence, 
that  Colonel  Piatt  deemed  it  necessary  to  rebuke  the 
''brute''  by  the  publication  of  the  following  card: 

MANIFESTATIONS  AT  DR.   WOLFE'S. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Commercial : 

It  seems  absurd  in  any  one  to  exhibit  feeling  in  a  discus- 
sion of  the  reality  or  liumbug  of  the  manifestations  at  the  liouse 
of  Dr.  Wolfe.  But  this  wrath  or  indignation  is  natural,  when 
you  reflect  tliat  to  question  one's  conclusions,  after  a  careful 
investigation,  is  to  attack  one's  understanding  in  the  most  ag- 
gravating manner.  The  doubting  party  says,  in  so  many  words  : 
"Here's  a  precious  ass;  he  believes  a  Punch-and-Judy  sliovv 
to  be  a  manifestation  of  the  spirits  !"  This  aggravation  is  not 
alleviated  when  the  party  making  the  attack  confesses  that  he 
or  she  has  not  looked  into  the  business  ;  or,  starting  to  investi- 
gate, is  satisfied  with  the  first  glance  that  I'eveals  beyond  ques- 
tion the  shallow  humbuggery  that  has  taken  in  the  other  fools. 
I  incontinently  admit  that  in  the  preparations  and  surround- 
ings there  are  much  to  excite  suspicion,  and  the  rat-hole  reve- 
lations provoke  one's  sense  of  humor.  But  all  this  ends,  when 
the  coffin-lid  is  lifted  from  a  loved  face,  and,  after  many  years 
of  longing  grief,  the  well-remembered  features  return  to  us. 

Now,  under  this  state  of  fact,  ridicule  becomes  insult ;  for 
if  the  thing  is  a  fraud,  there  is  no  punishment  sufficiently 
severe  or  degrading  for  the  perpetrators  of  the  outrage.  If, 
on  the  contrary,  there  is  any  truth  in  the  manifestation,  a 
right-minded  person  will  see  that  to  attack  it  with  sneers  and 
laughter,  is  to  trample,  like  a  brute,  upon  what  one  holds  to  be 
sacred. 

I  am,  through  temperament  and  intellectual  training,  a 
skeptic.  Possessed  of  a  keen  sense  of  humor,  I  am  given  to 
jesting.      I  was  startled  out  of  both  by  what  I  saw  and   heard 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM. 


3^7 


in  this  so-called  Puncli-and-Judy  show,  and,  after  eight  days' 
careful  investigation,  I  was  driven  to  the  conclusion  that, 
whether  the  spirits  of  the  dead  had  appeared,  spoken,  and 
written  to  me,  or  not,  the  medium,  Mrs.  Hollis,  had  notliing 
whatever  to  do  with  the  business,  beyond  being  present  at  the 
manifestations.  What  the  evidence  was  tliat  brought  me  to 
this  finding,  is  exclusively  my  affair.  I  could  not,  if  1  would, 
force  it  upon  the  public.  But  as  I  never  yet  recognized  a  truth 
I  was  afraid  to  avow,  or  shrank  from  the  defense  of  a  course, 
or  a  creature,  through  dread  of  ridicule,  I  assure  you  that  any 
attempt  to  account  for  these  strange  things  by  a  charge  of  fraud 
and  collusion  is  a  wrong  to  an  inoffensive,  unassuming  woman  ; 
and  a  refusal  to  investigate  what  is  considered  of  enough  im- 
portance to  print  columns  about,  is  a  wrong  to  ourselves. 

All  I  wish  to  say,  however,  can  be  put  in  one  sentence.  I 
am  not  satisfied  that  I  saw  the  faces,  lieard  the  voices,  and  read 
tlie  written  messages  of  the  dead  ;  but  I  do  know — for  it  would 
be  a  miracle,  were  it  otherwise — that  the  manifestations  were 
not  the  result  of  any  fraud,  design,  or  even  effort  on  the  part  of 
tlie  medium.  D.  P. 

Cincinnati,  October  6,  1872. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


368  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER  XX. 

EXTRAORDINARY  CONVERSATION  WITH  JIM  NOLAN, 
IN  THE  LIGHT  — A  NUMBER  OF  DISTINGUISHED 
FRENCH  SPIRITS— CALLING  DISTINGUISHED  CIT- 
IZENS TO  TESTIFY— PARENTS  RECOGNIZING  CHIL- 
DREN—THE   DEAD    SPEAK   AND   WRITE   AGAIN. 

JIM  NOLAN  said,  on  several  occasions,  he  would 
be  able,  before  the  termination  of  the  engagement, 
to  talk  to  me  twenty  minutes,  while  he  stood  before 
the  aperture,  with  his  face  fully  in  view.  Still,  one 
morning,  when  he  wrote  upoii  the  slate  he  wished 
me  to  go  to  the  cabinet-room  for  that  purpose,  I 
confess  I  was  a  little  surprised.  He  said  the  me- 
dium was  in  excellent  condition,  and  I  should  not  ap- 
prise her  of  his  intention.  I  gave  my  promise 
to  be  inter  itos,  and,  so  pledged,  went  to  the 
cabinet-room. 

This  imposed  silence,  I  subsequently  ascertained, 
was  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  medium  passive. 
Had  she  been  apprised  of  his  intention,  her  anxiety  or 
agitation  would  have  been  sufficient  to  defeat  his  pur- 
pose by  dissipating  the  power  he  employed.  Mrs. 
Hollis  has  much  to  learn,  and  a  great  deal  of  disci- 
pline to  receive  before  she  will,  of  her  own  accord, 
establish   conditions   through  which   the  spirits  may 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  369 

best  manifest.  Both  Nolan  and  '*Ski"  have  often 
written  me  to  do  certain  things  without  permitting 
the  medium  to  know  their  object  until  after  it  had 
been  accomplished.  To  her  credit,  however,  it  must 
be  said,  that  she  rarely  opposes  their  wishes,  when  her 
compliance  does  not  inconvenience  her  too  much. 
Like  most  people,  Mrs.  Hollis,  when  she  is  com- 
manded to  do  a  thing,  wants  to  know  the  motive  in 
view,  before  she  implicitly  obeys — asserting  that  she 
is  no  longer  a  child,  and  will  not  consent  to  be  treated 
as  such.  Still,  she  is  the  most  patient  and  passively 
.obedient  woman  to  the  wishes  of  the  spirits  that  I 
have  known.  Their  word  is  law,  but  she  requires  the 
reason  of  the  law  ;  yielding  an  intelligent  subjection, 
but  not  indulging  in  an  unreasoning  faith.  '*  I  walk 
with  my  eyes  open,"  she  said,  '*  and  will  not  be  led." 

As  requested,  I  went  with  Mrs.  Hollis  to  the  cab- 
inet-room, and  as  I  was  pushing  the  door  to,  after  she 
had  entered  the  cabinet,  a  voice  spoke  distinctly, 
"Stand  still!"  It  was  Jim  Nolan's  voice,  I  knew;  for 
I  had  heard  it  a  hundred  times.  I  obeyed  the  com- 
mand, standing  about  two  feet  in  front  of  the  aperture, 
upon  which  I  fixed  my  gaze.  About  five  minutes 
elapsed  before  the  cloth  was  put  aside,  when,  far  back 
in  the  dark  chamber,  was  discernible  the  outline  of 
a  man's  head.  It  approached  slowly  to  the  light,  until 
it  was  plainly  seen,  though  it  wanted  the  spirit-halo 
to  brighten  it,  as  I  have  seen  with  many.  The  light, 
however,  was  sufBcient  to  discern  the  color  of  the  eyes 
and  hair.  The  skin  of  the  face  was  sun-tanned  and 
dark,  while  the  beard  was  brown-black  and  fulh  From 
my  position,  I  could  have  ''pulled  him  by  the  nose"  if 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


370  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

he  had  been  a  lying  spirit,  and  would  have  done  so  had 
I  detected  him  in  a  fraud.  I  looked  steadily  in  his  eyes 
for  a  minute,  when  he  defended  himself  from  my 
aggressive  stare  by  shading  them  with  his  hand. 
He  seemed  to  be  perplexed  or  confused,  and,  in  a 
hesitating,  stammering  manner,  at  the  beginning, 
said  : 

''Do — you — see — me, — Doctor?" 

*'  Certainly  I  do, "  I  said  ;  ''  I  see  you  very  well/* 

'*  Do  I  look  like  a  mask  T 

"  Not  much  !     You  look  more  like  a  man." 

"  I  feel  so  just  now." 

"  I  hope  it  is  a  comfortable  experience,"  I  said. 

"  It  is  not ;  I  feel  my  old  fever  again." 

'*  Do  you  mean  the  fever  with  which  you  died  .'*" 

"  Yes :  the  old  hospital-fever.  " 

''  And  will  it  kill  you  again  T  I  asked. 

"  No :  but  it  makes  me  feel  very  uncomfortable  ; 
and,  when  I  retire,  I  w  II,  in  some  measure,  be  as  in- 
firm in  the  spirit-life  as  I  was  when  I  entered  it  from 
the  hospital." 

"  You  are  speaking  better.  Please  tell  me:  do  all 
spirits,  when  they  return,  take  on  the  conditions  of 
the  disease  with  which  they  died  } 

"  Mostly  so.  If  they  remain  long  materialized 
they  do  ;  but  if  only  for  a  short  time,  then  they  do 
not  suffer  with  their  old  disorders." 

"Does  that  account  for  the  difference  in  the 
displayed  power  of  materializing  by  different  spirits.?" 

''Partly.  Some  spirits  can  not  materialize  at  all, 
with  all  the  instructions  and  aid  we  can  give  them. 
Others  are  diffident  and  incapable  without  aid  ;  and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  37 1 

others,  again,  materialize  without  embarrassment  or 
effort.  The  conditions  surrounding  the  medium  have 
very  much  to  do  in  influencing  the  power  to  materi- 
alize, and  in  maintaining  the  organization." 

**  Why  is  it  that  some  spirits  speak,  and  some 
do  not?" 

**  It  requires  a  completely  passive  condition  to 
speak— a  power  but  few  attain.  Perhaps  never  before 
has  a  spirit  been  able  to  speak  so  long  in  the  light  as  I 
have  upon  this  occasion.  I  am  getting  sick,  and  must 
soon  retire." 

"  This  is  really  wonderful ! — the  living  and  the 
dead  again  exchanging  ideas.  Who  will  believe  this, 
when  I  make  my  report.^" 

"  Neither  fools  nor  bigots  !" 

"  And  I  fear  a  great  many  who  would  take  offense 
to  be  thus  classified  will  be  incredulous." 

''  Does  that  disturb  you  ?" 

"Not  very  much;  but  it  is  not  pleasant  to  have 
one's  integrity  impeached  by  the  world." 

"  Do  you  remember  the  story  I  told  Vickers  ?" 

"  I  do  not :  what  was  it  i*" 

'*  A  German  fable  about  a  man,  a  boy,  and  an  ass." 

'*  I  believe  I  recall  it  now.  It  was  to  the  effect 
that  a  man  who  sought  to  please  every  body,  suc- 
ceeded in  pleasing  nobody.  Instead  of  riding  the 
ass,  the  ass  rode  him." 

"You  have  th^ Juice  of  it.  Keep  that  in  mind. 
Be  true  to  yourself,  you  can  not  then  be  false  to  any 
one.  I  must  now  leave  you.  There  are  a  number  of 
distinguished  spirits  here,  who  will  materialize  after 
the  medium  has  rested  awhile.     Good-bye." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


-^^^2  STARTLING  FACIAS  IN 

After  ceasing  to  speak,  Jim  Nolan  remained  at 
the  aperture,  stroked  his  beard  with  his  right-hand 
several  times,  made  an  effort  to  whistle,  ''  winked  very 
wickedly"  three  or  four  times,  opened  and  shut  his 
mouth  twice,  displaying  tongue  and  teeth,  and  then 
vanished.  This  remarkable  inverview  continued 
twenty  minutes. 

Mrs.  Hollis  now  came  out  of  the  cabinet,  for  fresh 
air  and  recuperation,  after  giving  the  most  remarkable 
spirit-manifestation  that'  I  have  yet  found  recorded 
in  the  literature  of  spiritualism.  The  time  was  ex- 
actly twenty  minutes  from  the  beginning  of  the  materi- 
alization to  its  fading  out.  The  voice  at  first,  as  al- 
ready stated,  was  slow,  hesitating,  and  feeble,  but  a 
gradual  amendment  ill  all  these  particulars  super- 
vened. He  was  at  his  best  vocalization  when  I  said, 
'*  You  are  speaking  better,"  and  rapidly  declined  after 
replying,  ''Neither  fools  nor  bigots." 

Mr.  Thomas  Wickersham,  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  a 
gentleman  of  fine  poetic  temperament,  after  an 
interview  with  Jim  Nolan,  apostrophizes  him  thus  : 

"THE  ANGEL,  JIMMY  NOLAN. 

"  God  bless  thee,  Jimmy  Nolan,  and  bless  thy  spirit-band  ! 
My  soul  salutes  thee,  angel,  a  guest  from  Summer-land, 
I  hear  the  spirit-voices;  they  whisper  in  my  ear; 
I  know  I  am  immortal ;  departed  souls  are  here. 

Thy  coming,  Jimmy  Nolan,  is  wonderful  to  me  ; 
My  fervent  prayer  is  answered,  my  soul  from  doubt  is  free; 
I  thought  not,  in  my  weakness  and  gathering  despair, 
That  God  would  send  an  angel  in  answer  to  my  prayer. 

Thy  presence,  Jimmy  Nolan,  as  messenger  of  truth, 

Is  'fulgent  with  the  glory  of  an  immortal  youth  ; 

It  floods  with  light  that  river — the  unseen  country's  bourne — 

Streams  through  the  secret  portal,  bids  mortals  cease  to  mourn. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  3  ^'^ 

III  wonder,  Jimmy  Nolan,  I  here  confess  my  soul 

Before  an  unseen  power,  of  mystical  control. 

Who  will  believe  this  marvel— that  I,  with  mortal  breath, 

Have  talked  with  thee,  immortal,  beyond  the  gate  of  death? 

In  myst'ry,  Jimmy  Nolan,  our  friendship  thus  began  ; 
Though  not  thy  Brother  Mason,  I  am  thy  brother  man  ; 
In  faith,  in  works,  in  worship,  in  love  and  holy  prayer, 
"  We  meet  upon  the  level,  we  part  upon  the  square." 

In  duty  and  in  kindness  we  ever  work  and  toil, — 
Not  with  that  emulation  that  seeks  the  victor's  spoil ; 
But  with  high  aspirations,  in  common  brotherhood — 
Our  great  reward  for  action,  the  joy  of  doing  good. 

We  own  that  mystic  worship  the  ancients  used  to  know, 
Beside  the  sacred  Ganges,  in  ages  long  ago ; 
That  worshiping  in  spirit,  with  souls  in  sweet  accord, 
When  sitting  down  in  silence  to  wait  upon  the  Lord. 

We  know  not  by  our  wisdom  what  is  that  wondrous  power 
That  renders  every  lover  oblivious  of  the  hour. 
It  fills  and  rules  all  creatures  in  earth  and  heaven  above ; 
Therefore  the  loved  disciple  has  written,  "God  is  love," 

Not  in  the  crowded  temple,  not  where  the  priest  attends, 
But  from  our  secret  closet,  our  fervent  prayer  ascends. 
And  prayer  thus  breathed  in  secret,  like  incense  upward  rolls ; 
Joy  fills  the  waiting  angels  ;  their  hearts  pray  for  our  souls. 

O,  may  that  Holy  Spirit,  heard  in  the  wild-bird's  song; 
Heard  hi  the  voice  of  waters  that,  gushing,  foam  along  ; 
Heard  in  the  angel-voices,  that  cease  their  music  never, — 
Become  a  light  to  cheer  us,  to  hover  round  us  ever  !" 

Before  Mrs.  Hollis  entered  the  cabinet  again,  sev- 
eral members  of  my  family  came  into  the  room  to 
witness  the  remainder  of  the  manifestations.  As  soon 
as  the  door  was  closed,  the  hand  of  Marshal  Ney 
was  projected  from  the  cabinet,  and,  seizing  the 
pencil,  wrote  upon  the  slate  : 

*'  J.  Napoleon.  4.  Hortense. 

2.  Cardinal  Richelieu.       5.  Maria  Antoinette. 

3.  Josephine  6.  Charlotte  Corday. 

34 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


374  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

7.  Madame  Lafayette.  10.  Koiisseau. 

8.  Talleyrand.  11.  Madame  De  Stael. 

9.  Murat.  12. 

**  These  spirits  will  appear  in   the  order  they  are  numbered. 

"  Ney." 

I  had  scarcely  time  to  make  a  minute  of  the 
above,  and  replace  the  slate  on  the  bracket,  when 
the  cloth  at  the  aperture  was  lifted,  and  a  full,  fair- 
lighted  face  of  Napoleon  appeared.  It  was,  of  course, 
instantly  recognized  ;  and  after  a  half  minute  he  spoke 
quite  distinctly,  though  evidently  with  an  effort 
**  Vive  la  Finance  r  Having  said  this,  he  instantly 
vanished. 

The  cloth  did  not  fall  over  the  aperture  again 
before  the  great  cardinal  appeared  just  opposite  to 
where  the  emperor  had  retired — the  head,  large, 
angular,  and  almost  square,  with  unusual  breadth 
between  the  eyes  ;  a  close-fitting  black  velvet  cap, 
with  a  fringe  of  gray  hair  below  it  ;  the  eyes  laige 
and  prominent;  and  the  mouth  wide,  with  their  lips 
compressed.  He  wore  a  full,  thin  beard,  several 
inches  in  length.  He  had  upon  his  neck  a  chain,  to 
which  was  attached  a  crucifix. 

No.  3.  A  beautiful  oval  face,  with  large  dark 
eyes,  prominent  nose,  small  mouth  and  chin;  hair 
confined  with  strings  of  pearls  ;  and  a  crown,  sparkling 
with  brilliants,  worn  upon  the  head.  The  neck  and 
breast  were  almost  literally  covered  with  strands  of 
pearl,  from  the  center  of  which  a  medallion  likeness 
of  Napoleon  was  suspended.  It  was  richly  set  in 
brill iatits  or  costly  stones. 

Following  Josephine,  was  her  daughter  Hortense  ; 
her  hair   lighter  than  her  mother's,  done  up  in  short 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  375 

curls,  with  features  much  like  her  mother's  ;  also 
wearing  a  likeness  of  Napoleon  on  a  necklace  of 
brilliants.  As  she  was  finely  materialized,  I  said  to 
those  present :  ''  That  is  Hortense,  the  mother  of  the 
present  Emperor  of  France.  I  do  not  observe  the 
pictures  of  the  son  bear  any  resemblance  to  the 
mother."  If  the  reader  will  refer  to  page  241,  it  will 
be  seen  what  these  simple  remarks  called  forth. 

No.  5  appeared,  after  the  long  colloquy  with  Ney, 
with  head  and  neck  well  developed  ;  hair  very  black, 
and  combed  smooth,  and  close  to  the  face.  No 
ornaments. 

No.  6  looked  like  a  sick  person,  in  a  reclining 
position,  far  wasted  with  disease  ;  the  face  pinched 
and  shrunken,  and  very  pale,  with  the  eyes  closed. 
Lips  seemed  colorless  ;  a  white  bandage  was  worn 
round  the  head,  which,  Ney  subsequently  said,  was 
put  on  by  request  of  the  unhappy  woman,  a  few 
minutes  before  her  decapitation,  to  prevent  her  beau- 
tiful hair  from  being  draggled  with  blood. 

No.  7  was  a  plain,  republican  face,  but  finely  ma- 
terialized and  life-like.  The  f^ice  was  oval  like  Jose- 
phine's, but  more  gross,  Her  chest  was  a  marvel  of 
beauty,  well  seen,  the  dress  low.  She  wore  a  medall- 
ion likeness  of  Napoleon  on  a  necklace,  larger  than 
either  of  those  worn  by  Josephine  or  Hortense. 

No.  8  has  a  singular-looking  face,  with  a  hawk- 
like nose,  an  aggressive  crook  on  the  end,  bearing  a 
strong  resemblance  to  the  nose  of  the  late  William 
H.  Seward.  The  hair  was  grizzly  and  gray.  The 
general  expression  of  the  face  was  "foxy,"  cunning; 
which  I  did  not  like. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


376  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

The  materialization  of  No.  9  was  fine ;  but  the 
style  of  dress  decorations  and  curly  hair  would  be 
more  befitting  a  prince  of  coxcombs  than  a  prince 
of  men.  The  angles  of  this  fellow's  mouth  were 
puckered  up  in  the  most  contemptuous  manner,  though 
the  face  seemed  the  very  picture  of  repose.  I  should 
call  him  a  game-peacock,  who  wore  his  decoration  for 
holiday  display,  but  laid  them  aside  when  he  went 
into  a  fight. 

The  other  materializations  were  not  distinct,  as 
the  medium  complained  of  exhaustion,  and  asked  to 
be  relieved. 

It  will  now  be  asked.  *'  Do  you  really  believe  the 
faces  presented  at  the  aperture  belonged  to  the 
persons  whose  names  were  announced  in  connection 
with  them  .?"  To  be  candid  with  the  reader,  I  must 
say  the  question  is  impertinent.  What  I  believe  or 
disbelieve  should  not  affect  my  statement  in  this 
matter.  I  simply  record  what  I  saw  and  heard.  The 
spirits  I  have  mentioned  appeared  in  the  order  I 
have  given,  and  in  the  manner  described.  If  there  is 
any  doubt  about  their  identity,  pass  it  over,  and  in- 
terest yourself  in  the  major  proposition,  *' How  came 
they  there  at  all  T'  They  were  not  automatons  manip- 
ulated by  Mrs.  Hollis.  Of  that  I  was  well  satisfied. 
I  am  not  easily  deceived.  At  least,  I  was  all  the 
time  on  the  lookout  for  the  presence  of  fraud.  There 
was  none  in  this  case  :  I  assert  it  at  the  risk  of  my 
reputation'  The  conversation  with  Marshal  Ney  was, 
to  say  the  least,  a  most  wonderful  disclosure!  Is  it 
possible  that  Mrs.  Hollis  can  do  every  thing,  and  know 
every  thing,  an^l  <^.onceal  herself  so  well  as   to  defy 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  ^77 

detection  in  her  frauds  ?  I  will  call  other  witnesses 
to  the  stand.  I  may  be  deceived,  but  surely  all  can 
not  be. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  Mrs.  Augusta  Stone, 
Mrs.  Jennie  Paul,  and  Mrs.  Apoline  Smith  had  a 
cabinet  seance  with  Mrs.  Hollis.  She  entered  the 
cabinet,  and,  in  a  few  minutes  after,  the  spirit  of  a 
young  lady  materialized  and  appeared  at  the  aperture. 
Mrs.  Stone  and  Mrs.  Paul,  almost  at  the  same  in- 
stant, exclaimed, ''  Lizzie  Donaldson  !"  Following  this 
spirit,  was  an  old  lady  with  a  peculiar  head-dress, 
which  was  recognized  without  difficulty  as  Lizzie 
Donaldson's  mother — Mrs.  Paul,  Mrs.  Stone,  and  Mrs. 
Smith,  all  attesting  to  the  recognition.  Who  next } 
Why,  Miss  Amelia  Drevver,  of  Stockbridge,  Massa- 
chusetts. How  do  we  know  .?  Mrs.  Smith  says  so. 
Several  other  spirits  were  presented,  but  not  recognized. 
The  next  witnesses  had  a  cabinet  seance  on  the  /th 
of  September.  They  are  Mr.  D.  H.  Hale  and  his 
son,  Clinton  B.  Hale,  from  Indiana. 

These  gentlem'en  had  been  in  the  cabinet-room 
but  a  few  minutes,  when  a  young  lady,  giving  her 
name  as  Melvina,  appeared  at  the  aperture,  and  Mr. 
Hale  recognized  her  as  his  daughter.  The  young 
man  claimed  her  for  his  sister.  Daniel  Hale,  an  uncle 
of  Mr.  Hale,  appeared,  and  wrote  a  characteristic 
message,  saying,  ''  I  am  here,  thank  God !"  Mr. 
Hale  says  he  recognized  his  uncle.  A  little  girl  ap- 
peared, and  gave  her  name  as  Emma  Beam.  She  was 
but  five  years  old — an  adopted  daughter  of  Mr.  Hale. 
He  says  it  was  she.  A  young  lady  appeared,  after 
this  child,  and  wrote : 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


378  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

''Dear  Mr.  Hale:  how  kind  you  were  to  me  ! 

''Jennie  Billings." 

Mr.  Hale  wept,  as  he  recognized  this  face  as  be- 
longing to  one  whom  he  had  assisted  in  her  povert)^ 
With  the  knowledge  that  our  good  deeds  are  thus 
remembered,  a  belief  in  this  kind  of  spiritualism  won't 
make  people  uncharitable.  The  daughter  Melvina 
then  wrote  a  private  letter  to  her  father  and  brother  ; 
and,  after  several  other  unrecognized  faces  had  retired, 
the  seance  closed. 

Mr.  Robert  Mitchell,  Mrs.  Robert  Mitchell,  and 
Mr.  Stephen  H.  Burton  had  a  cabinet  j-^<^;/<f^  with  Mrs. 
Hollis,  on  the  9th  of  September.  Quite  a  number 
of  spirits  appeared,  flowers  were  materialized,  and 
arms  and  hands  presented.  Among  the  spirits,  Gen- 
eral Joseph  Wright,  of  Indiana,  and  Mrs.  Harriet 
Mitchell,  were  recognized. 

Mrs.  Maria  J.  Lemon  and  Mrs.  L.  A.  Chandler  en- 
gaged a  cabinet  seance  with  Mrs.  Hollis,  on  the  lOth 
of  September.  The  aperture  was  soon  made  interest- 
ing by  the  face  of  Mary  L.  Andrews,  which  was  quite 
familiar  to  Mrs.  Chandler.  Mrs.  Lemon's  sister, 
Lizzie  Tucker,  then  appeared,  and  brought  with  her 
Mary  Fairchilds,  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Lemon,  The 
next  face  presented  was  one  familiar  to  Mrs.  Chandler, 
which  she  called  Adeline  Durant. 

September  12th  was  set  apart  for  a  cabinet  seance 
for  Mr.  W.  G.  Morris,  Mrs.  Matilda  Withers,  Mrs. 
Mary  J.  Ball,  Covington,  Kentucky. 

To  these  persons  a  number  of  spirits  appeared, 
giving  the  names  of  relatives  accurately,  but  were  not 
recognized.     Among  them  a  boy,  who  wrote  : 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  3/9 

"Grandma:  I  will  show  you  a  belter  picture  of  myself, 
to-night,  than  timt  old  faded  photograph  is. 

[Signed,]  ''  Charley." 

The  grandchild  came,  but  was  not  recognized. 
The  name  and  chxumstances  were  given  correctly. 
The  only  seance  where  there  was  no  recognition. 
**  No  one  so  blind  as  she  who  will  not  see." 

The  next  witnesses  are  Mr.  Rufus  Slocomb 
and  his  wife.  They  came  for  a  cabinet  interview  on 
the  17th  of  September.  Fifteen  good  materializa- 
tions were  given  in  the  presence  of  these  witnesses; 
among  them,  their  daughter  Celia,  a  lad,  and  Clara. 
Resor  Taylor  were  distinguished  very  readily.  Celia 
wrote  several  messages  of  a  private  character  to  her 
parents,  besides  exhibiting  a  variety  of  flowers. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  Mr.  Samuel  R.  Bates 
and  wife  and  Mr.  Edward  C.  Urner  had  a  cabinet 
seance  with  Mrs.  Hollis.  Eleven  veij  ^w^  materiali- 
zations were  given,  among  which  were  quickly  dis- 
tinguished Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bates  (by  a  portrait),  Mrs. 
Lilly  Gaylord,  Miss  Catherine  Urner,  and  Mr.  Philip 
Grandin.  This  last  spirit  wrote  to  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Bates  : 

*'  Do  n't  cry,  my  dear  child  ;  I  'm  very  happy  !" 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bates  appeared  four  times  at  the 
aperture.     She  wrote : 

<'  Samuel,  you  do  not  remember  me.  You  were  an  infant 
when  I  passed  from  earth  !" 

The  following  communication  was  written  to  Mr. 
Urner: 

"My  Son, — I  have  made  y^-z/^  efforts  to  sliow  my  face,  hut 
could  not  succeed.     Give  my  best  love  to  your  mother.     I  am 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


380  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

ever  near  her.  George  and  Catherine  are  wilb  me.  I  am  very 
happy.  This  is  my  first  writing.  I  will  be  able  to  do  better 
after  a  while.     I  see  you  every  day.  Benjamin  Urner." 

A  seance  was  engaged  by  Mr.  Joseph  Abrams, 
Mrs.  Zerlina  Cahn/Mrs.  Fannie  Hellman,  and  Misses 
Louisa  and  Jennie  Cahn,  for  the  20th  of  September. 
In  the  presence  of  these  witnesses  there  were  te7t 
spirits  materialized  and  presented,  besides  hands, 
flowers,  and  handkerchiefs.  Among  the  spirits  were 
Juliet  Lewis,  Mrs.  Juliet  Bloom,  Mrs.  Cahn, 
Sarah  Dreyfoos,  Anna  Abrams,  and  Isadore 
Dreyfoos.  These  were  recognized  by  the  wit- 
nesses. Mrs.  Cahn  wrote  to  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Hellman  :  ''  Out  of  the  dark  waters  of  sorrow  joy  will 
spring!"     Anna  Abrams  wrote  a  note  to  her  father. 

On  the  following  day,  September  21st,  Mr.  Will- 
iam Sumner,  Mr.  S.  Harvey,  Mr.  Sidney  Omohundro, 
and  Mr.  J.  C.  Moore  visited  the  cabinet-room,  and 
saw  at  the  aperture  ten  spirit-faces,  among  which  were 
a  sister  of  Mr.  Harvey,  and  his  little  boy  '^Joey;" 
Mrs.  Samuel  Shock,  of  Columbia,  Pennsylvania,  and 
J.  Moore.  The  first  three  were  recognized.  There 
were  also  presented  hands,  arms,  flowers,  and  spirit- 
handkerchiefs  during  the  hour  and  a  half  they  sat  in 
the  room. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  a  cabinet  seance  was 
given  to  General  Rees  E.  Price,  Mrs.  Price,  Mr.  Rees 
Price,  Mr.  John  Price,  Mrs.  Mary  M'Duflie,  Miss 
Estelle  Matson,  and  Mr.  Rees  M'Duffie.  In  their 
presence,  twelve  spirits  appeared  at  the  aperture  ; 
among  whom  were  James  Price,  Judge  Matson,  Miss 
Sallie  Price,  Annie  Price,  Grandma  M'Duffie,  Mary 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  38 1 

Whipple,  and  ''Uncle  John."  These  were  recognized, 
and  some  of  them  wrote  messages  to  their  friends. 
There  was  also  a  fine  display  of  spirit-flowers,  arms, 
hands,  and  handkerchiefs. 

Captain  James  Drouillard  and  Mrs.  Florence 
Drouillard,  of  Cumberland  Furnace,  Tenn.,  and  Miss 
Marie  Drouillard,  of  Gallipolis,  O.,  had  a  seance  on  the 
29th  September,  in  which  eight  spirits  appeared  at 
the  aperture.  Among  these,  Mrs.  Drouillard's  mother, 
Uncle  Chambers,  Emma  Robb,  and  Sadie  Drouil- 
lard were  recognized.  General  M'Pherson,  a  personal 
friend  and  comrade-in-arms,  was  also  recognized  by 
Captain  Drouillard.  Jacob  Hornberger  wrote  his 
name,  which  was  recognized,  and  then  Charles  Camp- 
bell wrote : 

"My  wife,  child,  and  I  were  killed  by  the  accident  on  the 
railroad,  near  Nashville,  when  the  bridge  gave  way." 

The  name  and  circumstances  were  recognized. 
Mrs.  Drouiliard's  mother  wrote  to  an  old  servant, 
"  Dear  old  cooky,  God  bless  you  !"  after  which,  the  fol- 
lowing message  was  written,  and  the  author  identified  : 

'•My  Dear  Florence, — I  am  often  with  you.  Jimmy  is  so 
glad  to  have  you  come  here.  O,  darling  child  !  our  dear  ones 
are  all  here  ;  we  have  a  beautiful  home,  and  we  are  so  glad  to 
tell  you.. 

"  Your  devoted  Aunt  Kit.  " 

Another  message  was  as  follows  : 

*'  Dear  Cousin  Florence, — Tell  my  dear  wife  I  am  happy. 
I  tried  so  hard  to  write  to  my  friends,  but  was  so  cold  I  could 
not.     The  papers  were  found  near  me.  Jimmy." 

It  was  stated,  in  explaining  the  last  message,  that 
35 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


382  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

this  person  froze  to  death,  and  that  he  essayed  to 
write  something  hy  which  his  body  might  be  identified 
when  discovered,  and  his  people  apprised  of  his  fate. 

After  projecting  several  hands,  arms,  and  flowers, 
the  sea7:ice  closed. 

On  the  following  day,  Mrs.  Robert  Mitchell  and 
Miss  Lizzie  Couden  visited  the  cabinet-room,  and 
witnessed  the  materialized  faces  of  eighteen  spirits. 
Among  their  friends  and  acquaintances  appeared 
Edith  Couden,  Mrs.  White,  Mrs.D.  P.,  Henry  Chase 
Couden,  William  Craig,  James  Craig,  Governor  Joseph 
Wright,  of  Indiana,  and  Captain  Pogue,  of  Madison, 
Ind.  Arms,  hands,  handkerchiefs,  and  flowers  were 
also  displayed  at  the  aperture. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Hardman,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  had 
the  most  prolific  cabinet  materialization  that  was 
given.  There  were  twenty-six  faces  well  distin- 
guished, in  good  light,  besides  a  number  of  arms, 
drapery,  jewelry,  flowers,  and  handkerchiefs.  He 
recognized  a  number  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

Rev.  Thomas  Vickers  began  his  investigation  of 
the  phenomena  in  the  cabinet-room,  on  the  2d  of 
October,  but  had  been  in  the  dark  circle  previously, 
and  also  at  the  writing-table.  As  he  will  make  his 
own  report,  the  next,  and  last,  cabinet  seance  I  will 
record,  was  held  on  the  5th  October. 

This  circle  was  composed  of  Mr.  F.  B.  Plimpton, 
Hon.  Fisher  Ames,  U.  S.  Minister  to  San  Domingo, 
Miss  Maggie  Baker,  Mrs.  M'Kee,  Mr.  Andrew  De 
Ford,  Mr.  John  Price,  and  three  members  of  my 
family.  Quite  a  number  of  spirits  appeared;  but  they 
w^ere    those    mostly    who    had    materialized  before; 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM, 


3^3 


among  them,  Elwood  Fisher,  James  Buchanan,  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas,  Katie  Kerns,  my  mother,  hizziQ 
Odell,  Mary  Plimpton,  and  M.  D.  Potter.  The 
spirits  recognized  were,  Sallie  Price,  Emma  De  Ford, 
and  Mrs.  Helen  M.  WiJlet.  Others  came  to  the 
aperture,  but  their  recognition  was  not  so  well  pro- 
nounced. There  were  also  fine  materializations  of 
arms,  hands,  handkerchiefs,  and  flowers,  making  the 
occasion  an  interesting  one. 

For  the  present,  I  will  close  my  citations  of  wit- 
nesses, but  continue  the  testimony  in  the  ensuing 
chapter. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


384  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

REMARKABLE  INTERVIEW —  ELWOOD  FISHER  IDEN- 
TIFIES HIMSELF  TO  MR.  CORRY  — JIM  NOLAN  IS 
PHONETICALLY  REPORTED  BY  BENN  PIITMAN  — 
TFIE  MARRIAGE  QUESTION  FROM  A  SPIRIT  STAND- 
POINT—NOLAN'S VIEWS  ON  A  VARIETY  OF  SUB- 
JECTS— *'  THOUGHT  INDICATOR." 

IT  often  occurred  to  me  that  a  phonetic  report  of 
the  remarks  of  Jim  Nolan,  in  the  dark  circle, 
would  afford  matter  of  much  interest  to  the  reading 
public.  The  same  thought  occurred  to  Mr.  Plimpton, 
after  interviewing  Jim  two  or  three  times.  But  could 
it  be  done  in  the  da7'k?  That  was  the  question  of 
interest !  I  commissioned  Mr.  Plimpton  to  engage 
Mr.  Benn  Pittman  for  a  trial,  if  he  thought  well 
of  the  experiment  ;  and  it  was  agreed  that  Corry, 
Plimpton,  Pittman,  and  myself  should  interview 
''yiml'  on  a  certain  day,  with  the  stated  object  in 
view.  Mr.  Pittman,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  say,  has 
a  reputation  coextensive  with  the  country,  as  the 
most  accomplished  expert  in  his  profession  ;  still,  it 
was  an  untried  experiment  to  report  a  protracted 
conversation  in  a  room  so  dark  that  3^011  **  could  not 
see  your  fingers  before  your  eyes."  To  master  the 
situation  satisfactorily,  was- a  matter  of  some  anxiety 
to  us  all,  but  especially  to  Mr.  Pittman.     Writing  in 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  385 

the  dark  was  sufficiently  embarrassing  ;  but  to  report 
the  words  of  a  spirit  was  an  added  novelty,  not  cal- 
culated to  quiet  his  nerves  upon  the  occasion. 

At  the  appointed  time,  the  parties  named  were 
all  present,  and,  with  Mrs.  Hollis,  entered  the  room. 
Before  extinguishing  the  light,  the  room  was  care- 
fully examined,  and  no  concealed  confederate  was 
found.  The  door  was  then  secured ;  and,  after  Mr. 
Pittman  arranged  his  writing  appliances,  sitting  next 
to  Mr.  Plimpton,  I  next  to  him,  and  Mr.  Corry  next 
to  me,  the  light  was  put  out.  Mr.  Pittman  has  made 
a  most  faithful  report  of  what  followed,  which  is  here 
appended : 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  A  SPIRIT  SEANCE 

HELD  IN  THE  DARK: 

Being  an  Interviezv  with  the  Spirits  of  Elwood  Fisher  and  James  Nola7t. 
by  Hon.  William  M.  Corry ^  F.  B.  Plimpton^  Esq,,  and  Dr.  N.  B. 
Wolfe. 

PHONETICALLY   REPORTED    BY    BENN    PITTMAN. 

After  a  few  minutes'  desultory  conversation,  Mr.  Corry 
said  :  "Do  you  see  any  spirits,  Mrs.  Hollis?" 

Mrs.  H.  "Yes:  but  not  very  distinctly.  I  see  a  peculiar 
light  around  your  bead." 

Q.  "  What  is  it  like?" 

Mrs.  H.  "An  illuminated  atmosphere."  (Taps  of  the  horn 
on  the  floor.) 

Q.  "Do  you  wish  us  to  sing?"     (Several  quick  raps.) 

Mr.  Plimpton  sang,  "Oft  in  the  Stilly  Night,"  and  was 
accompanied  by  a  female  voice,  I  supposed  to  be  Mrs.  Hollis's, 
and  inquired  if  it  was  she. 

Mrs.  H.  "  I  never  sing ;  am  not  able  to  carry  a  tune  !" 

Dr.  W.  "I  have  never  heard  Mrs.  Hollis  sing  or  hum  a 
tune,  since  she  has  been  an  inmate  of  my  family." 

Mr.  Plimpton  sang,  "Ye  banks  and  braes  o'  bonnie  Doon," 
with  a  female  voice  accompaniment,  said  to  be  a  spirit-voice. 

Mrs.  H.  "There  is  a  spirit  standing  beside  Mr.  Corry,  in 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


386  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

plain  clotlies.  A  Quaker,  I  should  suppose.  He  has  his  eyes 
closed.     He  stands  with  his  arms  folded  across  his  breast." 

C.  ^' Does  he  announce  his  name.'^" 

Mrs.  H,  "  He  will  speak  to  you." 

C.  ^'  I  will  be  very  glad  to  have  a  communication." 

A.  (A  whisper.)     "William,  I  am  glad  to  meet  thee!" 

C.  (To  the  spirit.)     ''  Is  it  well  with  thee  ?" 

A.  "It  is  well" 

C.  "Will  thee  pronounce  thy  name  ?" 

A,  "  Does  thee  remember  thy  Faneuil  Hall  speech,  when  I 
told  thee  I  thought  1  should  have  to  save  thee,  like  Actaeon 
from  his  hounds  .?" 

C.  "  1  remember  it  very  well.  The  crowd  was  raging,  fight- 
ing, yelling,  and  stamping,  to  prevent  me  being  heard  ;  but  I 
did  not  not  care  whether  they  heard  me  or  not.  I  made  my 
speech,  and  it  was  printed.  Can  thee  make  thyself  audible 
to  this  circle,  so  that  every  syllable  can  be  heard,  as  if  thee  were 
on  the  rostrum  where  we  admired  thee  so  much.'*" 

A.  (A  whispered  reply.) 

C.  "Thee  holds  me  in  too  high  estimation!  What  is  thy 
reason  for  thinking  so  .^" 

A.  (A  whispered  reply.) 

C.  "It  may  be  a  mistake,  but  it  is  ingenuous." 

Spirit.  "I  thank  thee  for  it.     I  know  thou  art  a  true  friend." 

C.  "  Of  that  there  can  not  be  the   least  doubt  in  thy  mind." 

Spirit.  "1  know  thee  will  never  betray."  (Low  whispering, 
heard  by  Mr.  Corry  only.) 

C.  '^'Thee  has  identijied  thyself  perfectly  to  nie^  and  to  those 
who  were  at  the  last  silting.  Can  thee  relate  any  circumstances 
by  which  thy  identification  would  be  made  absolute.''  Thee 
knows  what  a  yearning  1  have  to  establish  the  fact;  and  how 
.  the  world  scofts  at  the  imperfect  evidence  which  is  presented  in 
these  investigations." 

Spirit.  (Whispers).  "Palmetto — cause— not  lost — Vallan- 
digham.     Farewell,  William  !" 

C.  "  Farewell,  El  wood  !" 

Dr.  W.  "Mr.  Corry,  do  you  recognize  that  spirit.^" 

C.  "Yes:   that  is  Elwood  Fisher." 

Mrs.  H.  "Near  you,  Mr.  Pittman,  I  see  a  spirit  who  gives 
his  name  as  William  Glenn.  He  says  he  died  on  Fifth  Street, 
between  Smith  and  John,  of  disease  of  the  brain.     He  gives 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  387 

the  names  of  his  children  as  William,  George,  David,  Anna, 
and  John.  He  was  a  partner  of  M'Gregor  in  the  lock—.  I 
can  get  no  more.     I  see  the  name  of  Joseph   Langdon.     Mr. 

Corry,  I  see  the  name  of  Barnett,  and  a  small  foot.     What  does 

it  mean  ?" 

C  "Do  you  get  his  initials  ?" 

Mrs.  H.  "G.  W.  are  given." 

C,  "  G.  W.  Barnett  was   celebrated  for  having  the  smallest 

feet  of  any  man  in  town." 

Mrs.  H.  "I  see  an  old  man,  very  much  stooped,  his  clothes^ 

much  worn;    looks  as  if  in  distress.     He   gives  the  name  of 

John  Clingman." 

C.  ''  I  knew  him  very  well.     He  was  a  hatter." 

Mrs,  H.  ''  He  says.  Yes  ;  his  daughter  Ehza  is  living  on  his 

place.     He  can  not  tell  where  his  son  John  is.     I  thought  you 

was  n't  coming,  Jim."     (Spoken  in  an  under-tone.) 

Jim  Nolan,  ''I  only  stood  back  to  give  them  old  fellows  a 

chance.     How  are  you,  Mr.  Corry  .^" 
C.  "Quite  well,  thank  you,  sir  !" 
Spirit.  "  How  are  you,  Mr.  Plimpton  ?" 
P.  "  Very  well  ;   I  'm  glad  you've  come,  Jimmy." 
Spirit.  "  Thank  you,  sir  !     How  are  you,  Doctor  ?" 
Dr.  "Tip-top,    Jim!      Hope    we'll  have  a  good    time    this 

morning." 

Spirit.  "  I  hope  so  !     How  are  you,  medium  ?" 

Mrs.  H.  "  I  am  not  feeling  very  well  to-day." 

Spirit.  "I'm  sorry  for  that,  but  can't  help  it." 

P.    '-Jimmy,   we  have    Mr.    Pittman   here   to    report    your 

conversation.       Any  thing  you  have  to  say,  we  will  be    glad 

to  hear." 

Spirit.  "You  had  better  indicate  the  topic  upon  which  you 

desire   information,  Mr.  Plimpton.     You   have  a  preference,  of 

course." 

P.  "  In  a  former  conversation,  you  said,  when  death  takes 

place,  we  are   provided  with  spiritual  bodies.     Can  you  tell  us 

something  about  these  spiritual  bodies?" 

Spirit.    "  I  did    not   say  you   were  provided  with   spiritual 

bodies.     You  'have  them  all  the  time  with  you.     Your  spiritual 

body  dwells  in  your  natural  body,  and  is  of  the  same  shape,  and 

only  a  trifle  sm'aller  in  size.     The  natural  body  is  like  an  old 

garment  over  it.     When  you  lay  that  aside,  the  spirit  steps  out 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


388  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

like  a  new-blown  flower !  You  are  tlien  free,  sir,  from  ah 
physical  defects." 

P.  "What  is  the  first  consciousness  after  the  spirit  is  freed 
from  the  body  ?" 

Spirit.  "'  I  felt  as  if  I  had  stepped  out  of  an  old  pair  of  boots. 
1  did  not  know  I  was  dead.  I  thought  I  had  shaken  off  an 
old  garment.  I  never  dreamed  I  was  dead,  until  my  comrades 
told  me." 

Q.  "  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  spirit- world  ?" 

Spirit.  "About  six  yeais." 

Q.  "Where  did  you  die?" 

Spirit.  "In  the  Iiospital,  in  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Q.  "You  were  a  soldier,  then  ?" 

Spirit.  "Yes:  I  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Fifty-niuth  Indiana 
Volunteers,  and  served  until  my  death.  I  was  at  the  surrender 
of  Vicksburg." 

Q.  "How  did  you  get  to  Nashville?" 

Spirit,  "I  was  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea.  At 
theEtowah River  I  was  taken  sick  with  typhoid  fever,  and  from 
that  place  was  sent  back  to  Nashville.  The  Maxwell  House 
was  then  a  hospital,  and  in  it  I  died." 

Q.  "What  were  your  sensations  when  dying?" 

Spirit.  "It  was  like  going  to  sleep.  You  may  remember 
some  thought  you  had  before  sleeping;  but  when  passing  into 
sleep,  you  are  oblivious.  So,  in  passing  into  death.  My  mind 
had  been  very  active.  I  thought  of  every  incident  and  circum- 
stance of  my  life.  I  could  see  and  hear  all  that  ever  transpired 
with  which  I  was  associated.  I  remembered  jokes,  fun,  and 
frolic,  and  enjoyed  them  as  I  did  when  first  I  heard  them  around 
the  camp-fire.  We  had  a  Dutchman  in  our  company  that  was 
always  taking  care  of  things.  He  would  permit  nothing  to  go 
to  waste.  One  hot  day,  in  June,  we  had  a  hard  march  through 
the  swamps,  in  Mississippi,  and  -the  boys  lighted  up,'  that  is, 
they  threw  everything  away  that  could  be  dispensed  with.  The 
line  of  march  was  literally  strewn  with  blankets,  shoes,  caps, 
canteens,  and  other  traps.  Several  car-loads  of  valuable  goods 
were  thus  wasted.  The  Dutchman  tried  to  carry  all  he  coidd 
find,  but  he  found  too  much.  The  pile  on  his  back  grew  higher, 
higher,  until  it  loomed  up  like  a  pack-saddle  on  an  elephant. 
Under  this  load  he  staggered  for  several  hours,  sweating  and 
blowing.      He  spied  the  shining  blade  of  an  army  ax  lying  in  an 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  389 

out-of-the-way  place.  He  could  not  resist  llie  templalion  ;  so  lie 
went  for  it,  with  the  exclamation,  "  Ich  muss  diese  axt  haben  !" 
As  he  stooped  fori!,  he  fell,  and  it  ahnost  broke  his  heart  when 
he  found  he  had  to  leave  the  ax,  and  traps  he  had  carried  for 
miles.  It  became  a  rallying  word  with  the  boys— "  Ich  muss 
diese  Reb  haben  !" 

Q,  *'  Is  it  possible  that  you  could  think  of  this  anecdote  while 
dying?" 

Spirit  "It  was  before  I  died.  As  already  stated,  dying,  to 
me,  was  going  to  sleep.  You  are  not  conscious  when  you  slum- 
ber, and  you  have  no  memory  of  the  exact  time  you  became  un- 
conscious. The  clock  strikes  ten  ;  that  is  the  last  you  remem- 
ber. When  it  strikes  eleven  you  do  not  hear  it.  1  remembered 
the  anecdote— a  hundred  of  them— and  went  to  sleep  like  a 
tired  person." 

Q,  "When  you  awoke,  how  did  your  new  situation  impress 

you  ?" 

Spirit,  "  I  felt  as  if  I  had  but  arisen  from  a  slumber,  a  trifle 
bewildered.  I  did  not  feel  sick  ;  that  surprised  me  most.  A  faint 
suspicion  passed  over  my  mind  that  something  had  occurred, 
but  could  not  tell  exactly  what.  My  body  was  lying  in  the  cot, 
and  I  recognized  it.  That  was  strange.  Looking  around,  I 
saw  three  of  my  old  comrades,  who  had  been  killed  in  the 
trenches  before  Vicksburg.  I  buried  them;  and  there  they 
were.  I  looked  at  them  in  amazement,  and  they  at  me.  One  of 
them  said,  'Hallo,  Jim  !  have  you  come  over?' 

"  '  Over  !'  I  said,  '  over  where  ?' 

" '  WJry^  here  ;  in  the  spirit-world,  to  be  sure.  It's  a  mighty 
nice  place,  old  feh' 

"This  was  too  much.  Almost  in  agony,  I  exclaimed,  'My 
God  !  I  am  not  dead  !' 

"  'No,  you  are  not  dead,  Jim,  but  you  are  in  the  spirit-world. 
If  you  have  any  doubts  about  it,  look  there  at  your  old  body.' 

"  My  body  was  there,  sure  enough;  and  in  less  than  an  hour 
I  saw  it  carried  from  the  place  I  left  it,  to  a  shuffle-board, 
that  slid  it  into  a  wagon  below.  I  followed  it  to  the  grave, 
the  only  interested  spectator  at  the  funeral.  I  returned  to 
the  hospital,  and  saw  the  surgeon,  the  nurses,  and  the  cots  in 
the  room. 

"It  was  some  days  before  I  went  to  the  spirit-world.  I 
went  to  my  mother,  in  this  world,  first.      I  remained  with  her 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


390  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

until  after  she  received  the  news  of  my  deatli.  Then  I  got  a 
singular  longing  for  rest.  I  seemed  to  walk  the  atmosphere,  or 
rather  sailed  through  it,  like  a  bird  with  wings  extended.  I  can 
not  tell  how  long  it  took  me,  but  I  think  in  five  minutes  I  was 
told  I  was  sixty-two  and  a-half  miles  above  the  earth.  Do  you 
understand  me,  Mr.  Pittman  ?     In  five  minutes. 

Q.  "What  was  your  first  experience  in  that  world  ?" 

Spirit.  ''  I  was  just  going  to  relate  that  my  soldier-friends 
never  deserted  me,  singular  as  it  may  seem  to  you,  during  the 
time  fromthe  period  of  my  death  until  I  went  to  the  spirit-world. 
I  never  saw  any  relatives,  only  my  soldier-friends,  though  I  had 
several  sisters  and  brothers  and  grandparents  in  the  spirit-land. 
I  seemed  to  step  on  veritable  ground.  An  old  lady  them  came 
toward  me,  saying,  'Jimmy,  you  have  come  home.'  I  looked 
again  and  again  at  her  face,  and  then  I  said,  '  O,  grandmother,  is 
this  you  ?'  'Yes,  dear  boy,'  slie  said.  Tiien  I  walked  with  lier 
over  actual  ground,  where  there  were  flowers  and  trees,  and  I 
noticed  birds  in  the  limbs  ;  I  heard  them  singing.  We  walked  a 
distance,  and  came  to  a  dwelling.  I  went  in.  She  told  me  I 
must  rest  now.  I  lay  down  on  the  lounge,  or  couch,  and  slept 
for  hours.  From  the  time  of  my  death  and  my  return  to  my 
motlier,  I  have  no  recollection  of  sleeping  until  that  moment." 

Q.  "  Did  that  house  appear  like  our  houses  V^ 

Spirit,  "Yes,  sir:  it  was  just  as  tangible  to  me  as  your 
houses  are  to  you.  But  there  seemed  to  be  pillars  instead  of 
walls,  and  the  light  shone  straight  into  the  house.  It  was  per- 
fectly white.  There  were  flowers  and  vines  twining  around  it; 
there  were  musical  instruments  in  it ;  books,  tables,  and  many 
things." 

Q.  "  How  high  was  it  ?" 

Spirit.  "  It  was  only  one  story,  but  we  have  houses  with  five 
and  six  stories." 

Q.  "Are  the  houses  already  provided,  or  do  you  construct 
Ihem  ?" 

Spij'it.  "Some  construct  them  themselves,  and  some  have 
them  constructed.  I  never  built  a  house,  but  I  have  planned 
them.  In  the  spirit-world  you  can  create  all  that  is  beautiful 
that  your  spirit  desires." 

Q.  "  How  far  is  it  possible  for  our  aspirations  to  be  reahzed  ?" 

Spirit.  "  Every  holy  and  pure  aspiration  of  your  soul  will  be 
realized  to  the  fullest  extent,  and  all  the  beauty  that  you  desire 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  391 

to  create  in  this  world,  you  will  create  in  the  spirit-world;  for 
that  portion  of  you  will  live  and  grow  forever." 

Q.  "  Now  go  back  to  your  sleeping  experience  in  this  house." 
Spirit.  ^' After  I  awoke,  I  found  myself  surrounded  by  some 
twenty  or  thirty  friends,  some  I  had  never  seen  before;  and  I 
asked  the  question,  ^  Am  I  in  heaven  ?'  The  answer  was,  'You 
are  in  the  spirit-land.'  'Then,'  I  said,  '  I  suppose  I  can  rest  for- 
ever.' At  this  there  was  a  smile  passed  over  the  countenance 
of  each  one.  I  was  puzzled  for  a  moment  or  two,  when  one 
stepped  forward,  and  said,  'If  you  were  to  rest  forever,  you 
would  not  go  beyond  what  you  are.  The  spirit-land  is  no  place 
for  folded  arms  ;  you  have  a  greater  work  to  do  than  you  ever 
dreamed  of.'  Immediately  after  my  death  I  resolved,  if  it  were 
possible,  I  would  return,  and  convince  the  world  of  the  after-life, 
because  I  was  a  materialist,  and  believed  in  no  hereafter." 

Q.  "Did   you    form    that    resolution    after    your    death,  or 
before  ?" 

Spirit.  "Immediately  after,  sir,  as   I  stood  in  the   Maxwell 
House,  looking  on  my  body." 

Q.  "Now,  as    to   these   spiritual   bodies — do  they  grow  in 
stature,  as  we  grow  here  ?" 

Spirit.  "  Ciiildren  do  ;  children  arrive  at  maturity  of  size." 
g.  "But  do  you  grow  old  ?" 

Spirit.  "  Well,  no,  sir  ;    not  in  personal  appearance." 
Q.  "Have  you    seen    the    spirits  of   any   men    of   note,  in 
the  spirit-world  ;  say,  Michael  Angelo,  Shakespeare,  or  Sweden- 
borg  ?" 

Spirit.  "I  have  seen  Shakespeare." 

Q.  "  How  old,  judging  by  our  standard,  did  he  appear  to  be  ?" 
Spirit.     "About  twenty- seven." 
Q.  "  Have  spirit-bodies  a  spirit-anatomy?" 
Spirit.  "Yes,  sir  :  if  you  ask  a  man  who  has  lost  his  limb,  he 
will  tell  you  that  he  feels  it  still.      The  physical  portion  of  that 
limb  is  gone,  but   not  the  spiritual  portion.     He  will  tell  you 
that  his  foot  actually  grows  cold;  and  physicians  will  tell  you 
it  is  only  the  nerves  that  give  him  that  sensation,  but  that  is  a 
mistake.      If  you  were  a  clairvoyant,  you  would  see  the  missing 
limb  to  be  as  perfect  as  the  other." 

Q.  "Is  it  made  use  of  in  the  same  way,  if  the  limb  is  taken 
off?" 

Spirit.  "Yes:  it  moves  with  the  other  foot.      There  is  no 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


392.  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

deformity  from  our  stand-point      I  assume,  sir,  that  all  spirits 
are   born   with   equal  capacit)'.     Now,  gentlemen,  I  shall  have 
to  explain.     Take,  for  illustration,  an  idiot ;  you  will  say  that  sucli 
spirit  is  born  with  inferior  endowments.     I  say  no  !     It  has  a  dis- 
eased organization  which  can  not  work  perfectly,  and  therefore  it 
gives  forth  an  imperfect  expression.      Do  you  understand  me  ? 
You  know,  gentlemen,  that  if  you  have  a  bad  piece  of  machinery, 
it  turns  out  bad  work.     So  it  is  with  tiie  machinery  of  the  human 
brain  ;  if  it  is  imperfect,  it  gives  forth  an  imperfect  impression.  ' 
Q.  "•  I  would  like  to  ask  about  your  opportunities  for  mental 
culture  since  you  left  the  body.      What  have  you  learned  in  the 
spirit-world  that  you  did  not  know  when  you  were  here?" 
Spirit,  "Well,  sir,  I  could  not  tell  you  all." 
Q.  "Tell  us  one  thing  you  have  learned." 
Spirit.  "I  have  learned  tliat  I  am  immortal." 
g.  "  Did  you  never  suspect  that  here  V 
Spirit.  "No,  sir,  I   never  did.      I  used  to  think  I  would  be- 
lieve it  when  I  saw  it." 

Q.  "Can  you  tell  us  something  more  that  you  have  learned, 
since  you  left  this  world  V 

Spirit.  "I  was  twenty-two  years  old  when  I  passed  from 
this  world,  and  all  I  have  told  you  this  morning  is  what  I  have 
learned  since  I  left  it." 

Q.  "Now,  come  back  to  your  spirit-life,  and  tell  us  liow,  in 
the  first  place,  you  came  to  find  this  medium,  and  how  it  is  you 
work  through  her.  Could  you  explain  the  process  to  us,  so 
that  we  can  understand  it?" 

Spirit.  "I  will  try,  sir;  but  it  willbe  rather  a  difficult 
matter.  You  want  to  know  how  I  first  found  her.  Well,  I 
knew  her  husband  in  the  army;  and,  as  I  visited  all  the  men 
of  my  regiment,  I  went  to  him,  and  I  found  a  wonderful  attrac- 
tion about  her  house.  I  remained  there  for  weeks,  and  tried  to 
give  manifestations.  She  saw  them,  but  did  not  pay  any  par- 
ticular attention  to  them.  I  found  that  I  could  get  particles 
from  her  body  that  I  could  materialize  a  hand  with,  and  after 
she  had  retired,  I  could  lay  that  hand  on  her  head  so  that  she 
could  feel  it.  That  was  the  first.  After  I  found  that  I  could 
materialize  my  hand,  I  thought  I  could  my  whole  body;  and  I 
came  so  that  I  could  materialize  the  organs  of  speech,  wiien 
the  room  was  darkened  after  night,  so  that  I  could  whisper; 
which  I  did,. and  frightened  the  family  very  much." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  393 

Q.  "Why  is  it  that  you  require  darkness  ?" 
Spirit.  "By  all  spirits  and  mediums  you  will  be  told  tliat 
darkness  is  negative,  and  light  positive.  You  notice  a  ray 
of  sunshine  entering  a  darkened  room,  through  a  crevice;  the 
room  seems  to  be  filled  with  dust.  Well,  sir,  that  motion  is 
electricity  and  life  in  the  atmosphere.  Light  keeps  it  in  motion, 
and  in  that  light  we  can  do  nothing.  But  when  the  room  is 
dark,  and  there  is  quiet,  we  can  gather  those  particles,  and  form 
hands  and  bodies." 

Q.  "Then  you  need  those  electrical  particles?" 

Spirit.  "Yes,  sir:  the  atmosphere  is  filled  with  life,  just  as 
water  is." 

Q.  "In  what  sense,  then,  is  it  necessary,  if  you  can  gather 
these  particles  from  the  atmosphere,  that  you  should  have  a 
medium  ?" 

Spirit.  "Well,  sir,  why  does  brown  sugar  have  to  be  refined 
to  make  it  white  ?  It  arrives  at  this  condition  by  passing 
througli  a  medium  ;  so  we  pass  the  electricity  we  gather  from 
the  atmosphere,  through  our  medium,  and  refine  it.  Then  it 
becomes  human  magnetism  V 

Q.  "  Then  magnetism  is  nothing  but  refined  electricity  ?" 

Spirit.  "That  is  it,  sir;  yes." 

Q.  "And  when  it  is  filtered,  you  call  it  magnetism  ?" 

Spirit.  "Yes,  sir." 

Q.  "And  you  have  to  remain  in  what  is  called  her  magnetic 
sphere,  when  you  speak  or  materialize  ?" 

Spii^it.  "Yes,  sir;  and  I  can  not  go  away  from  it." 

Q.  "If  you  did,  could  you  then  materialize?" 

Spirit.  "  I  could  not  speak,  sir." 

Q.  "  For  what  length  of  time  can  you  speak  ?" 

Spirit.  "  As  long  as  the  medium  can  supply  the  materializ- 
ing element.     That  is  my  power — as  steam  moves  machinery." 

Q.  "Will  you  ever  be  able  to  speak  in  the  light  ?" 
Spirit.    "Quite  recently,   with    my  face  fairly  seen   at  the 
aperture   in   the   cabinet,    I    spoke    to    Dr.    Wolfe   for   twenty 
minutes.     The  doctor  can  attest  to  that  fact." 

Dr.  W.  "You  did;  and  a  very  interesting  conversation 
we  had." 

Q.  "  Why  couldn't  you  speak  to  me  as  well  as  the  doctor  ?" 

Spirit.  "We  could,  if  you  supplied  us  with  the  magnetic 
element  he  does." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


394  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Q.  ''How  extensive  is  tliis  magnsiic  sphere  about  the 
medium  ?" 

Spirit.  "  It  varies.  Sometimes  it  is  not  more  than  two  feet; 
but  sometimes  it  extends  ten  feet,  according  to  the  condition  of 
her  health." 

Q.  ''Are  you  now  on  a  segment  of  that  sphere  ?" 

Spirit.  "Slie  is  not  in  a  very  good  condition  this  morning 
for  manifestations,     I  am  only  a  short  distance  from  her." 

Q.  "Do  other  spirits  assist  you  in  materializing?" 

Spirit.  "Yes  :   we  assist  one  another." 

Q.  "Can  you  see  us  when  you  are  in  an  unmaterialized 
condition  ?" 

Spirit.  "Yes:  better,  sir,  than  I  can  when  materialized.  I 
can  see  no  more,  as  a  materialized  spirit,  than  a  clairvoyant." 

Q,  "  In  an  unmaterialized  condition, is  this  room  dark  to  you?" 

Spirit.  "No,  sir." 

Q.  "  Tiiere  is  one  question  I  want  to  ask  further.  I  see,  in 
these  manifestations,  that  you  require  the  assistance  of  music. 
In  what  way  has  music  any  effect  or  influence?" 

Spirit.  "It  really  does  not  do  us  any  good.  It  only  con- 
centrates the  thoughts  of  the  parties  present,  and  makes  them 
more  passive." 

Q.  "Then,  if  we  could  be  harmonious  without  the  music, 
you  could  manifest  yourself  as  well  ?" 

Spirit.  "  Yes,  sir:  sometimes  we  have  music  that  is  not  very 
pleasant,  but  still  it  tends  to  harmonize  the  sphere  of  the  circle." 

Q.  "  Have  you  a  clearer  consciousness  of  tiie  great  Creator 
than  we  have  ?" 

Spii-it.  "O  no,  sir:  we  don't  believe  in  a  crowned  God,  in 
a  king.  One  thing  I  was  going  to  sa)^,  gentlemen:  I  presume 
you  know  that  you  all  make  your  own  God  ?  I  have  frequently 
remarked,  ^An  honest  God  is  the  noblest  wo?'k  of  maul'  " 

Q.  "That  is,  each  of  us  creates  an  ideal,  which  we  imagine 
or  think  is  God?" 

Spirit.  "Yes,  sir." 

Q.  "And  the  higher  our  conception  of  him,  possibly,  the 
nearer  we  approach  to  it  ?" 

Spirit.  "  That  is  it,  sir." 

Q.  "  Does  that  Creator  manifest  himself  to  you  specially  in 
any  way,  that  you  are  conscious  of,  in  the  spirit-world  ?" 

Spirit.  "  O  no,  sir  :  only  as  you  are  conscious." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  395 

Q.  "You  remarked,  the  other  night,  that  there  were  spheres 
beyond  or  hioher  than  ours.  What  is  it  that  divides  you  from 
those  spheres  ?" 

Spirit.  "Conditions  !" 

g.  "  How  do  conditions  distinguish  the"  spheres  ?" 
Spirit.  ''  Now,  Mr.  Phmplon,  one  question  I  will  ask  you  : 
You  meet,  on  the  street,  a  drunken,  miserable,  mean,  degraded 
wretch  ;  what  is  it  that  divides  you  from  that  man,  but  your 
condition?" 

Q.  "  Certainly,  I  understand  that ;  but  you  do  not  quite 
comprehend  what  I  was  trying  to  get  at.  You  say  that  when 
you  entered  the  spirit-world,  it  was  about  sixty-two  and  a  half 
miles  from  the  surface  of  this  earth  ;  that  then  you  entered  into 
what  was  a  real  world  to  you,  with  its  mountains  and  valleys, 
and  all  the  incidents  of  reality.  What  I  want  to  know  is,  if 
those  spirits  who  go  from  you,  and  return  to  you,  and  tell  you 
of  what  they  have  seen  and  experienced— whether  they  go,  also, 
to  an  entirely  different  sphere,  a  new-created  world  to  them  ?" 
Spirit.  ^'Yes:  you  have  a  world,  and  you  pass  from  your 
condition  to  ours,  just  as  we  are  preparing  to  pass  to  a  world 
beyond  our  spirit-land;  that  is,  from  one  condition  to  another 
still  higher." 

Q.  '-Will  this  go  on  indefinitely?" 

Spirit.  "  Well,  sir,  I  am  told  there  is  no  end  to  progression  ; 
but  men  in  their  infancy  can  not  help  putting  an  end  to  all 
things." 

Q.  "  If  spirits  are  so  anxious  for  the  welfare  of  people,  why 
do  not  such  men  as  Howard,  Wesley,  and  Swedenborg,  or 
men  whose  whole  lives  were  given  up  to  the  instruction  and 
elevation  of  their  fellow-men,  come  to  us  and  give  us  the  benefit 
of  their  spiritual  experience  ?" 

Spirit.  "They  do  try  ;  but  there  will  be  no  material  change 
for  the  better  till  the  conditions  are  changed,  and, till  the  laws 
and  systems  by  which  you  are  governed  are  done  away  with." 
Q.  "What  law,  specially,  will  be  changed?" 
Spirit.  "Your  marriage  law." 
Q.  "  When  will  it  be  changed  ?" 
Spirit.  "  1  can  see  no  prospect  at  present." 
Q.  "  Is  any  change  desirable  ?" 

Spirit.  "  O  yes,  sir ;  and  1  will  say  this  :  that  your  conven- 
tional marriage  is  the  root  of  all  evil." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


396  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Q.  ^'  But  people  should  marry  ?" 

Spirit.  "  YeS;  but  not  without  knowing  each  otliery  and  be 
held  togetlier  for  life." 

Q.  "Give  us  your  best  thouglits  on  this  subject." 

Spirit.  "  I  can  scarcely  give  you  my  thouglUs  ;  but  it  is  my 
opinion  tliat  if  a  man  and  woman  are  married,  who  are  not 
suited  to  eacli  other,  tlie  sooner  they  separate,  the  better.  Let 
me  illustrate  my  position  :  A  young  man  is  enamored  with  a 
jyoung  girl  who  has  been  brouglu  up  in  the  lap  of  luxury; 
and  they  are  married.  He  is  determined  to  be  a  great  man,  if 
w^ealth  will  make  him  so,  even  if,  in  his  ambition  to  attain  that 
end,  every  good  feeling  within  liim  is  cruslied  out.  They  are 
married  scarcely  a  year,  before  they  learn  one  thing — that  they 
are  separated  in  affection  thousands  of  miles,  although  living 
under  the  same  roof.  The  loveless  wife  soon  learns  decep- 
tion. She  has  to  steal  from  that  man  what  she  actually  needs. 
After  he  has  retired,  and  gone  to  sleep,  she  will  search  his  pock- 
ets for  a  dime  or  iialf  a  dollar,  to  get  some  little  needed  thing. 
They  live  together  year  after  year,  but  in  her  heart  of  hearts 
she  feels  that,  if  there  was  no  law  to  take  her  in  hand  for  it,  she 
would  take  his  life,  to  rid  herself  of  the  one  she  positively  hates. 
She  raises  a  family.  I  ask  you  this  question,  gentlemen:  do 
you  wonder  that  thieves  and  murderers  are  the  result  of  this 
kind  of  marriage  t  I  think  you  require  law  in  the  present  day; 
but  I  am  not  speaking  of  low  conditions,  but  of  the  very  highest. 
I  have  looked  through  the  world  often,  and  seen  the  misery  from 
HI  harmonious  marriages,  and  I  have  almost  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  it  is  sinful  to  remain  in  those  conditions.  It  may,  per- 
haps, surprise  you,  but  I  think  people  should  live  together  for  a 
year,  so  as  to  know  one  another  before  marriage.  I  would  like 
to  know,  gentlemen,  how  many  men  there  are  in  this  city  who 
act,  in  the  presence  of  a  young  lady,  as  they  appear  to  us  ;  and 
how  many  ^^adies  are  there  who  appear  before  gentlemen  as 
they  do  in  the  presence  of  each  other.  We  are  frequently 
charged  with  bringing  mischief  from  the  spirit-world,  in  sepa- 
rating men  from  their  wives  ;  but  we  only  discover  the  mischief, 
do  not  cause  it." 

Q.  "  In  the  spirit-land,  do  you  communicate  with  each  other 
in  a  language  that  is  articulated  as  ours  is  ?" 

Spirit.  "Yes  :  it  would  be  a  disagreeable  thing  to  live  in  a 
world  where  there  were  no  sounds." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  397 

Q  "If  you  died  without  a  knowledge  of  the  French  or 
Gemian  language,  could  you  acquire  a  knowledge  of  either,  in 
the  spirit-world  ?" 

Spirit,  "  I  could,  sir,  by  impression."  ^^ 

Q,  "Then  it  would  be  difficult  to  have  any  secrets. 

spirit.  "  There  are  no  secrets.  I  am  going  to  tell  you  some- 
thing that  is  coming,  and  that  will  do  away  with  all  cruue. 
The  two  worlds  are  ever  drawing  nearer  to  each  other  You 
know,  gentlemen,  people  are  afraid  of  their  deeds  benig  known. 
They  a1-e  not  afraid  to  act,  but  if  they  thought  that  then-  acts 
were  seen  and  known,  they  would  try  to  act  differently  t.om 
what  they  now  do;  and  then  there  would  be  no  criminals. 
Hence,  there  would  be  no  deception  between  those  who  are 
to  be  married;  and  if  there  were  none  but  harmonious  mar- 
riages, that  would  bring  about  harmonious  children.  Now, 
I  will  ask  you  one  question.  If  one  of  you  were  tempted  to 
steal,  would  you  not  look  up  and  down  the  street  first  to  see 
if  any  one  saw  you,  before  committing  the  deed  ?  And  if  you 
knew  their  eyes  were  upon  you,  would  you  do  it?  It  is  just 
as  natural  to  avoid  eyes  as  it  is  to  live.  Do  you  see,  if  you 
had  a  real  vivid  consciousness  that  a  spirit-friend  was  by 
your  side,  you  would  avoid,  or  be  restrained  from,  doing  many 
things  that  you  now  do?  Let  me  ask  you,  if  you  knew  tha 
your  mother's  eyes  were  upon  you,  would  you  do  any  thing  that 

would  grieve  her  ?"  ... 

Mr.  P.  "It  would  certainly  operate  as  a  restraining  in- 
fluence." ,.         .     . 

spirit.  "I  will  tell  you  one  thing.  My  medium  is  impres- 
sional.  You  may  bring  five  criminals  and  five  good  men  into 
her  presence,  and  blindfold  her,  and  let  each  one  take  her 
hand  and  if  she  does  not  detect  which  are  the  good  and  which 
the  bad  I  will  never  come  back  and  speak  in  this  world  again. 
People  never  have  thoughts  with  regard  to  her  that  she  does 
not  comprehend  at  once."  . 

Mr  P  "  I  want  to  ask  you  a  question,  a  little  personal  in 
its  nature.  My  mother  spoke  to  me,  and  I  have  no  doubt  it 
was  her  voice,  but  I  have  never  seen  her  face.  Now,  do  you 
think  you  could  assist  her  to  materialize  ?" 

spirit.  ''  I  do  not  know,  sir.  I  will  try,  before  my  medium 
goes  home." 

36 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


3g8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Q.  '*  Have  you  any  inventions  or  instruments  in  the  spirits 
world  that  we  have  not  ?" 

Spirit  ''All  the  inventions  you  have  come  from  the  spirit- 
world.  I  stated  this  to  Dr.  Wolfe,  when  speaking  of  the  electric 
telegraph  and  big  bridge.  [See  page  247,  chapter  xiii.]  We 
have  an  instrument  now  ready  to  l)e  given  to  the  world,  as  soon 
as  a  proper  medium  is  found  to  receive  it.  It  is  called  a 
'Thought  Indicator.'" 

Q.  "  How  does  it  act  ?" 

Spirit.  "  It  in  an  instant  indicates  thought." 

Q.  "Does  it  do  this  by  means  of  symbols,  such  as  our 
letters  ?" 

Spirit.  "  It  does  it  by  means  of  characters.  The  instrument 
I  speak  of  will  be  used  on  earth  in  sixty  years  from  now.  You 
will  not  live  to  see  it ;  but  remember  what  1  have  told  you." 

Q.  "How  does  this  instrument  work?" 

Spirit.  "  It  indicates  thought  on  paper  as  rapidly  as  if  done 
by  electricity — as  rapidly  as  we  think." 

Q.  "Are  such  records  now  made  in  the  spirit-world?" 

Spirit.  "Many  of  our  finest  Avritings  are  given  in  this  way." 

At  this  point  of  the  interview  Mrs.  Hollis  com- 
plained of  feeling  exhausted,  and  Nolan,  after  thank- 
ing us  for  our  patience  and  enterprise,  became  silent. 
The  seance  was  ended. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  399 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

SPIRIT   PHENOMENA    SEEN  BY  HON.  WM.  M.  CORRY— 

SPIRIT-WRLTING,  TALKING,  AND  MATERIALIZING-- 

A  TROUPE  OF  OLD  CITJZENS  COME  TO  THE  FRONT— 

"     ELVYOOD  FISHER  INTERVIEWED— SHOWS  PART  OF 

HIS  FACE— ASTOUNDING  MANIFESTATIONS, 

HON.  WILLIAM  M.  CORRY'S  report  of  his 
experience  with  spirit  manifestations  will  attract 
special  attention,  as  he  is  widely  known  throughout 
the  country.  This  is  the  third  report  in  the  series, 
given  by  representative  men,  and  bears  upon  its  face 
the  characteristic  ingenuousness  for  which  its  author 
is  distinguished.  Without  further  introduction,  his 
report  is  subjoined : 

SPIRITUAL    MANIFESTATIONS. 

W.  M,  CORRY'S    STATEMENT    OF    HIS    EXPERIENCE. 

FIRST    SEANCE, 

I  WENT  to  Dr.  Wolfe's,  No.  146  Smith  Street,  at  his  request, 
last  September,  for  a  spiritual  seance^  there  being  much  discus- 
sion of  the  subject  in  the  city. 

It  was  ten  A.  M.  when  Mrs,  Mollis  seated  herself  at  tlie  side 
of  tlie  small  stand,  with  a  light  cloth  on  it,  in  the  center  of  the 
room,  and  I  sat  near  her,  at  the  end  of  the  stand.  There  was 
light  enough  to  see  objects  distinctly,  and  to  make  notes.  She 
held  a  small  slate,  on  which  was  a  bit  of  pencil,  in  her  hand^ 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


400  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

under  tlie  stand.  The  whole  aim,  above  the  wrist,  was  \5sible, 
and  the  olber  hand  hnng  by  lier  side.  Sb.e  conversed  on  or- 
dinary topics  with  me,  wliile  in  this  position,  for  ten  minnles, 
wlien  I  heard  the  pencil  fall  on  tlie  slate.  She  immediately 
produced  the  slate,  and  theie  was  nothing  on  it  but  a  mark  like 
the  letter  V;  the  pencil  was  there,  and  I  requested  the  spirit 
who  made  the  mark  to  write  me  a  message. 

After  a  few  minutes'  delay,  came  (he  following,  which  is  my 
first  communication.     Jt  was  in  two  lines,  thus: 

"John  Corry. 

"William." 

I  tlien  wrote,  "Describe  yourself,  so  that  I  can  identify 
you." 

The  answer  was  given  :  "William  Corry,  your  fatlier.  I  am 
here." 

This  took  five  minutes,  at  least. 

1  wrote  again  :  "  Please  write  a  sentence  about  any  thing  you 
desire  to  say." 

Five  more  minutes  elapsed,  when  came  this  answer:  "I 
respect  your  staiuling _/?;';//  to  youi"  parly." 

The  \N0\\\Ji7'//i  was  underscored. 

Prompted  i)y  this  allusion  to  politics,  as  I  had  just  sus- 
pended my  weekly  democratic  newspaper,  tlie  Co7/i7noner,  1  put 
this  question  :   "Ought  the   Cojnmone?'  to  be  continued  ?" 

In  about  three  minutes,  the  answer  was:    "No,  1  fear  not." 

The  answer  not  being  positive,  I  repeated  the  question, 
thus  :   "  Siiould  the  Comjnoner  <^q>  on  ?" 

In  other  three  minutes,  the  answer  was  given  :  "  Let  the 
Commoner  go.     Make  brick." 

The  writing  was  not  clear,  and  I  said:  "Write  plainer, 
please.     Why  should  the  Com^noner  stop  ?" 

After  the  usual  interval,  the  answer  was  :  "  Make  brick, 
William." 

This  was  the  end  of  the  conversation,  at  that  time,  with  what 
purported  to  be  tlie  spirit  of  my  father.  It  is  pioper  to  explain 
the  injunction  about  making  brick,  by  saying  that  I  am  in  the 
business  of  manufacturing  pressed  brick,  under  Geotge  C. 
Bovey's  patent,  by  steam  macliinery,  and  have,  for  several  years, 
been  giving  it  attention,  thought,  time,  and  money.  This  is  the 
first   encouragement    I    have   received  from  any  quarter;    the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  4OI 

living-  appearing  to  have  a  holy  liorror  of  brick-machines.  I  may 
add, \o\vever,  that  if  the  dead  had  also  been  against  me,  it 
would  be  some  time  yet  before  I  would  give  it  up,  such  is  my 
confidence  in  the  invention  and  my  associates.  I  make  this 
statement  to  show  that  my  own  mind  has  been  full  of  the 
subject  of  brick-making,  which  some  may  think  explains  the 
paternal  injunction. 

The  seance  went  on.  The  next  message  was  from  another 
spirit,  who  wrote,  "Do  you  remember  Joseph  Gest  ?" 

I  inquired,   "Are  you  Joseph  Gest,  the  old  city  surveyor?" 

The  prompt  answer  was,  "Yes." 

I  inquired  again,  "Why  do  you  ask?" 

The  answer  came:   "He  wants  his  daughter  Clarissa." 

I  asked:  "  Wliat  does  he  want  with  her.  Will  he  write  to 
her?" 

No  reply. 

I  continued:  "What  have  you  to  say?" 

The  answer  was:   "  I  want  thee  to  tell  her  I  am  here." 

I  inquired,  "Have  you  any  thing  to  say  to  her?" 

In  a  couple  of  minutes,  this  came:  "Tell  Clarissa  that  my 
wife  and  her  father.  Dr.  John  M.,  are  here." 

I  could  not  make  out  the  doctor's  name  ;  (he  whole  message 
being  badly  written,  and  the  name,  although  it  was  on  the  slate, 
was  "not  legible.  I  asked  to  have  the  name  made  plainer,  and 
wiped  out  the  message.  In  a  minute  or  so,  the  slate  was 
produced,  with  the  word  ^'Moore,^''  in  very  plain  characters. 

I  then  asked,  "What  more  do  you  want,  and  who  are  3'ou  ?" 

In  two  minutes,  the  answer  was  :   "I  am  Joseph  Gest." 

1  then  asked,  "  What  have  you  to  say  ?" 

The  reply  was  :   "Thee  knows  Erasmus?" 

I  answered:  "Yes:  have  you  anything  particular  to  say 
about  Erasmus,  or  your  wife  ?     She  is  dead." 

At  the  usual  interval,  the  answer  was:  "  Yes,  no.  Tell 
Clarissa,  that  my  wife  and  the  doctor  are  with  me." 

I  continued:  "What  about  Erasmus?      I  told  you  I  knew 

him?" 

After  three  minutes,  the  answer  came  :  ''He  must  take  care 
of  himself." 

I  then  asked,  "  What  do  you  mean  ?" 

To  this,  no  answer  was  made.  Mr.  Joseph  Gest  was  a  city 
surveyor  many  years,  and  he  died  here,  not  long  since,  at  an, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


402  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

advanced  age.  He  and  his  family  were  Quakers,  and  used  the 
plain  language  in  conversation.  Clarissa  and  Erasmus  are  two 
of  his  children  ;  and,  on  inquiring  of  the  latter,  he  told  me, 
what  I  never  knew  before,  that  the  name  of  his  grandfather  was 
Dr.  John  Moore. 

In  a  few  minutes  more,  tlie  noise  of  the  writing  on  the  slate 
was  heard,  and,  when  it  was  shown,  there  was  written  quite 
across  it,  in  a  bold  liand,  the  name  of  "  Lafayette  Neville." 

I  inquired,  ''  What  have  you  to  say  ?" 

The  answer  was  :   ''  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  William." 

I  asked  :  '^How  can  I  serve  you?  I  will  be  glad  to  do  it. 
Do  you  want  to  send  any  message  to  your  widow?" 

The  answer  was  :   '^  Only  say  to  Caroline,  that  I  am  happy." 

'^  Any  other  message  ?"  I  asked. 

No  answer.  I  knew  Mr.  Neville  well  ;  and  Caroline  is  his 
widow's  name. 

Next,  there  was  an  illegible  writing.  I  said,  ''Write  that 
over." 

The  answer  was  :  ^' You  have  Dr.  Curtis's  house." 

I  asked,  ''  What  of  it  ?  and  what  do  you  want  to  say  ?" 

The  answer  came  :  ''  Are  you  not  " — illegible. 

I  requested  to  have  the  illegible  word  written  plainer. 

The  answer  was  :   "  Are  you  not  afraid  of  ghosts,  there  ?" 

I  inquired,  •'  What  do  you  ask  that  for?" 

The  answer  was:  ''The  doctor  (word  illegible)  men." 

I  asked :  "  Please  answer  plainly.  What  is  the  middle 
word?" 

''Dissected.     He  cut  me  up.     I  am  James  Nigger." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  Nigger?'  " 

Answer  :  "  Colored,  I  mean." 

By  this  time  we  had  spent  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  there  was 
a  lively  knocking,  which  made  Mrs.  HoUis  inquire  if  there  were 
any  more  spirits  wishing  to  communicate.  The  reply  wa^  by 
the  single  negative  knock. 

SECOND    SEANCE. 

In  the  first  seance  which  I  have  described,  there  were  no  ad- 
juncts at  all  disceinible  ;  but  in  the  cabinet  seance  the  musical 
box  is  wound  up  at  the  beginning,  and  never  ceases  to  play  till 
the  end. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  403 

I  was  present  with  Mr.  Piatt  and  Mr.  Plimpton  at  a  cabinet 
seance,  held  at  Dr.  Wolfe's  house,  but  in  another  room,  which 
has  been  arranged  for  the  convenience  of  the  medium  and  tlie 
visitors.  It  is  on  the  second  story,  in  a  small  room,  between 
two  others  which  are  lighted  with  gas.  At  one  side  of  this  room, 
a  thin  board  partition  has  been  run  up,  from  the  floor  to  the 
ceiling,  about  two  and  a  half  feet  from  the  wall.  We  examined, 
and  found  nothing  but  a  chair  for  Mrs.  HoUis  to  sit  upon.  The 
liglit  was  turned  low,  but  not  so  that  we  could  not  distinctly  see 
each  other's  faces  and  forms,  and  the  furniture.  The  doors 
communicating  with. the  two  end  rooms  were  nearly  closed,  to 
exclude  the  light.  Mrs.  Hollis's  right-hand  was  marked  in  the 
palm  with  burnt-cork.  She  entered  the  cabinet,  and  shut  her- 
self in,  the  door  having,  at  the  height  of  four  feet,  a  round  ap- 
erture, of  a  foot  in  diameter,  over  which  a  piece  of  square  cloth 
hung  down,  inside.  1  don't  think  this  cloth  was  ever  lifted,  but 
I  ant  told  the  doctor  believes  otherwise.  The  musical  box  was 
playing,  and  soon  a  hand  and  wrist  appeared  quickly  at  the  ap- 
erture"; then  another,  and  another.  All  these  hands  were  fem- 
inine in  appearance,  and  moved  about  freely,  up  and  down,  for- 
waid  and  backward;  but  always,  when  one  disappeared,  it 
showed  the  palm  the  last  thing,  and  there  was  no  mark  on  it. 
The  hands  were  all  right-hands,  and  each  withdrew  before  an- 
other appeared.  They  looked  natural,  and  1  asked,  several 
times,  to  touch  them,  or  be  touched  by  them  ;  but  the  doctor, 
who  was  always  present,  did  not  consent,  although  he  said  that 
he  had  done  it  himself,  and  it  could  be  done. 

A  hand  took  up  the  bit  of  pencil  lying  on  the  slate,  which 
was  placed  on  a  shelf  just  under  the  aperture,  and  wrote  :  "Judge 
Burnet"— that,  and  nothing  more.  We  asked  if  Judge  Burnet 
would  communicate,  but  there  was  an  answer  in  the  negative 
by  knocking.  Dr.  Wolfe  himself  asked  the  questions  generally 
during  the  sitting,  although  every  one  felt  at  liberty  to  converse 
and  to  ask  explanations  of  the  spirits. 

A  hand  came  out  of  the  aperture,  in  plain  view,  and  wrote  a 
message  on  the  slate,  picking  up  the  pencil  and  holding  it  just 
as  any  body  would.  The  message  was:  '^ Major  Ben,  I  can 
whip  'em  yet  !" 

Some  one  inquired,  "Who  are  you  ?" 

The  hand  came  out  again,  and  wrote  the  monosyllable,  "Barr." 

Mr.    Piatt  thought   he  understood    the  question,  and   that 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


404  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

it  was   to  him,  but   be   asked,    *'Was   that  message   directed 
to  me  ?" 

The  liand  came  again,  and  wrote,  ^' Sam  B.  Keys  will  know." 

Mr.  Piatt  asked  the  spirit  to  be  more  parliciilar. 

Tlie  hand  came  again  and  wrote,  "  I  was  Ins  relative." 

Mr.  Piatt  inquired,  "Are  3'ou  Sam  B.  Keys?" 

The  hand  then  wrote,  "  Miijor  Barr." 

I  thought  the  message  was  not  probably  to  Mr.  Piatt,  but 
might  be  for  me;  so  I  related  that,  among  other  manly  qualities 
of  Major  Barr,  in  his  early  days,  was  a  propensity  to  fight; 
and  that  on  one  occasion  there  had  been  a  great  battle  between 
liim,  a  merchant,  and  my  grandfather,  Thomas  Fleming,  a 
farmer  of  Butler  County,  in  the  Lower  Market  House,  about 
a  quarter  of  beef,  in  which  both  were  worsted.  While  I  was 
telling  the  story,  thei'e  was  a  vigorous  knocking  within  the 
cabinet,  which,  as  I  understand  it,  indicated  approval, 

James  Buchanan,  ex-President,  next  appeared,  and  was 
recognized  by  me  and  the  rest.  He  is  a  constant  guest  at  Dr. 
Wolte's.  The  well-known  head  and  the  white  cravat  and  hair 
came  forward.  Dr.  Wolfe  greeted  him  with,  "Good  evening, 
Mr.  Buchanan  !"  which  was  recognized  by  a  nod,  and  in  a 
minute  or  two  he  retired,  having  advanced  to  the  aperture,  and 
receded  several  times.  The  appearance  was  pi'ecisely  that  of 
a  large  lithograph  porli'ait.  A  hand  on  the  slate  followed,  and 
wrote,  "  Corry  spent  three  days  at  Wheatland."  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan came  again  and  again.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  also  put 
in  the  same  appearance  and  pantomime,  the  action  of  the  two 
heads,  the  only  part  visible,  in  each  instance,  being  perfectly 
chaiacteristic. 

The  next  I  saw  distinctly  a  female  head,  which  I  recognized 
as  the  late  Mis.  Donn  Piatt.  The  hair  was  worn  after  her 
taste,  and  the  expression  was  exactly  like  hers.  She  came 
several  times,  but  very  timidly  and  f^iintly.  It  was  her  side- 
face. 

Then  followed  Lizzie  Odell,  who  was  a  relation  of  the 
doctor,  and  generally  comes  to  the  cabinet  seances.  She  was 
recognized  by  Mr.  Plimpton,  as  well  as  the  doctor.  Her  hair 
w^as  held  up  from  her  forehead  by  a  cherry-colored  ribbon. 

Mary  Plimpton,  the  deceased  sister  of  Mr.  Plimpton,  came 
next,  and  was  greeted  and  recognized  by  him.  She  lingered, 
and  responded,  by  her  action,  as  if  she  loved  to  be  there. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  405 

Then   the  hand  came  out  and  wrote  on  the  slate.     It  was 

simply,  "Donn  Piatt." 

Mr.  Pialt,  atlnbuling  this  message  to  his  wife,  asked  orally 
if  she  had  any  thing  to  say  ? 

The  liand  wrote,  ''  Fenton  Lawson,"  a  well-known  citizen, 
long  since  dead.     Then,  '' Mary  Piatt." 

*'  Have  you  any  thing  you  wish  to  say  to  me  ?"  repeated 
Mr.  Piatt,  orally. 

The  answer  was  :  ^'  I  am  happy  ;  you  must  not  fear  to  come." 

He  added,  ''  Have  you  any  thing  else  to  say  ?" 
''  No  !"  was  immediately  written  by  the  hand  on  the  slate. 

Mr.  Piatt  asked  orally,  "Is  there  any  one  else  who  wishes 
to  communicate  with  me  ?" 

The  answer  was  by  the  hand,  written  as  usual:  ''  Do  you — " 
but  the  rest  was  illegible;  and  when  Mr.  Piatt  requested  an 
explanation,  the  hand   wrote  again,  ''Come  to-morrow,  Donn." 

Another  hand  now  wrote  a  message.  It  was  simply,  "Will- 
iam Corry." 

I  asked  orally,  "  Have  you  any  thing  further  to  say  to  me  ?" 

The  hand  appeared  at  once,  and  wrote  upon  the  slate  this 
message:  "William,  let  the  Commoner  go;  you  have  lost 
enough  !" 

I  asked  again,  "What  further  advice  have  you  to  give?" 

The  liand  wrote  again,  "  Go  on  wilh  the  brick." 

I  inquired,  "Will  that  be  profitable?" 

The  hand  wrote  again,  "You  will  make  money  with  the 
machine." 

Another  hand  wrote,  "'  Morgan  Neville." 

We  asked  if  he  had  any  message.  There  were  affirmative 
knocks— several  of  them — and  then  the  hand  wrote,  "I  gave 
my  children  no  money,  because  I  thought  it  best." 

With  this  communication,  that  cabinet  seance  terminated,  at 
half-past  nine  P.  M. 

THIRD   SEANCE. 

Mr.  Piatt  and  myself,  with  Dr.  Wolfe,  had  a  dark  seance 
for  conversation  wilh  the  spirits.  It  was  at  ten  in  the  morning; 
but  the  chamber  in  which  it  took  place  was  made  perfectly 
dark,  by  padding  the  doors  and  windows.  Not  a  ray  of  light 
was   admitted,  although    after  a  while  it  was    said   that  lights 

n 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


406  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

flitted  about.     I  never  saw  the  phenomenon  but  once,  and  then 
faintly. 

After  three  minutes,  there  were  knocks  heard,  and  tlie  tin 
horn,  which  stood  on  the  floor,  was  moved  about.  We  all 
talked  freely  ;  Mrs.  Hollis  as  well  as  the  others.  The  music- 
box  was  playing.  Mrs.  Hollis  described  several  persons — 
spirits — who  were  in  the  room.  One  was  a  large  man,  of  jovial 
bearing,  who  was  leaning  toward  Mr.  Piatt  and  examining  his 
arm,  which  had  been  hurt  recently  by  an  accident.  Mrs.  Hollis 
gave  his  name  directly  as  ''Jesse  Judkins."  Mr.  Piatt  inquired 
what  he  was  doing;  to  which  she  replied  that  it  seemed  to 
be  about  his  injury,  which  he  was  attentively  examining,  but 
smiling  all  the  time. 

Just  then,  there  was  a  faint  utterance,  like  a  female  voice,  so 
low  that  it  required  very  quick  ears  to  detect  what  was  said. 
1  distinguished  the  words  at  last:  "Ella  is  better;  she  will 
get  well." 

The  message  was  supposed  to  come  from  the  former  Mrs. 
Piatt  to  the  present. 

Then  the  voice  feebly  said,    "Don't   you   know — "      The 
rest  was  inaudible. 

Mr.  Piatt  said  :  "  I  can  't  hear  you.     Speak  louder,  please  !" 

Another  effort,  but  fruitless. 

Mr.  Piatt  said,  "Try  again." 

The  voice  said,  "Mary  Meeker." 

Mr.  Piatt  replied  he  did  remember  her  very  well  ;  and  he 
remarked  to  me  that  she  was  a  little  girl  in  his  family  years  ago, 
and  was  a  medium. 

My  notes  were  taken  in  the  utter  darkness,  and  the  lines 
crossed,  and  other  difficulties,  make  them  imperfect: 

"Tell  Ella  I  love  her ;  and  that,  of  all  the  hats  she  wore  last 
Winter  in  Washington,  the  one  I  liked  was  the  pink  one  with  the 
white  plume.    The  white  plume  cost  twenty  dollars.    Good-bye  1" 

James  Nolan,  f^imiliarly  called  Jimijty,  now  seemed  to  seize 
the  horn,  and  began  to  talk.  He  gave  us  his  history:  That 
he  was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Indiana,  and  at  nineteen  went 
into  the  war  with  the  first  volunteers,  a  private  in  Company  K, 
of  the  Fifty-ninth  Regiment,  which  was  commanded  by  Colonel 
Courcy,  or  De  Courcy.  His  captain's  name  he  gave,  I  think, 
as  M'Bride.  He  served  four  years  ;  was  at  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg  ;    and,  finally,  on   his  march   to   the   sea,    under  General 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  407 

Sheiman,  he  was  attacked  with  typhoid  fever,  and  was  sent 
to  Nashville  to  the  hospital,  now  the  Maxwell  House,  where, 
after  a  short  ihness,  he  died.  He  said  he  lingered  round  his 
remains  while  they  were  warm,  and  saw  himself  laid  out  and 
dressed  for  the  grave  by  his  comrades.  It  was  just  like  putting 
off  an  old  garment.  He  was  surprised  at  the  ease  of  the 
change,  and  could  hardly  think,  he  was  dead.  He  said  he  ex- 
claimed, ''Am  I  really  dead?" 

In  a  future  conversation,  at  which  Mr.  Plimpton  and  Mr. 
Pittman,  the  celebrated  phonographer,  assisted,  Jimmy  ex- 
plained these  matters,  and  his  subsequent  career  in  the  spirit- 
land,  at  great  length.  A  note  was  taken  of  it  all,  which  I 
expect  to  see  in  print.  It  is  interesting.  I  can  state  that  the 
impression  he  made  on  me  was  not  that  of  a  light,  ordinary 
young  soldier,  but  of  a  man  of  truth,  sincerity  of  purpose. 
He  said  he  had  the  strongest  desire  to  persuade  men  of  the 
future  state  ;  that  he  devoted  most  of  his  time  and  energies 
to  the  work;  that  it  could  not  be  done  but  by  a  process  of 
materialization,  which  he  explained  ;  and  that  he  was  drawn 
to  Mrs.  Hollis's  house  and  herself,  because  he  had  served  with 
her  husband,  and  become  attached  to  him  in  the  army.  It  is 
only  possible  to  communicate  with  the  world's  people  by  the 
instrumentality  of  a  medium,  to  whose  sphere  he  had  to  confine 
himself  in  order  to  be  heard.  He  appeared  at  all  the  dark 
circles,  as  they  are  called,  where  the  spirits  hold  their  oral 
communications;  and  he  was  always  in  a  pleasant  mood,  and 
made  himself  popular,  if  that  word  can  be  so  applied.  I  leave 
him  here  for  the  present ;  for  I  was  most  anxious  to  talk  to 
my  mother,  if  possible,  and  with  my  friend,  El  wood  Fisher, 
for  whom  I  had  always  felt  an  attachment  so  ardent  that  it 
seemed  to  many  romantic;  but  as  I  had  seen  no  man  then  or 
since  that  I  thought  equal  to  him,  I  will  probably  never  change. 

The  medium,  Mrs.  Hollis,  said  that  she  saw  a  tall  lady 
dressed  in  black,  wearing  a  cap,  who  seemed  to  have  lost  her 
teeth,  standing  by  me  and  looking  at  me.  But  she  was  unable 
to  speak.  Mrs.  Hollis  said  she  saw  another  lady  there,  who 
was  tall,  slender,  and  a  younger  person  than  my  mother. 

I  asked  who  it  was,  but  she  could  not  talk.  A  voice,  how- 
ever, very  low,  said,  ''That  is  my  wife  !" 

I  thought  it  was  my  friend  Fisher  who  spoke  ;  and  I  asked 
him  why  my  mother  did  not  speak  to  me. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


408  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

He  replied  tliat  he  could  only  do  so  with  great  difficult}^, 
and  after  his  best  efforts;  that  speaking  was  a  new  thing  to 
them,  and  had  to  be  learned.  ^'Thee  has  no  idea,^^  my  friend 
said,  ^^  of  the  extreine  difficulty  of  ai^iicitlation  by  the  spirits P^ 

"Does  thee  remember  Elizabeth  Fisher  ?"  he  asked. 

I  said,  ''  Yes  :   thy  mothei." 

"Does  thee  remember  the  little  store  on  Fifth  Street,  where 
thee  saw  me  the  first  time,  sitting  on  the  counter?  Does  thee 
remember  taking  me  to  thy  father's  office  on  Main  Street,  after 
a  while  ?" 

I  said  I  did  remember  these  things,  and  that  ni}^  father  had 
as  high  an  opinion  of  him  as  myseU^;  and  from  that  time  Mr. 
Fisher  was  always  cherished  in  our  familj^,  and  made  perfectly 
at  home.  He  was  our  greatest  favorite;  and  I  thought  liim 
superior  to  the  college-boys  with  wdiom  I  studied  Latin  and 
Greek.  It  was  on  my  daily  walk  across  Fifth  Street  Market 
Space,  to  and  from  college,  that  I  found  out  my  life-long  friend. 
I  should  observe  tliat  he  was  the  friend  of  Mr.  Piatt  also  ;  and 
that  at  this  sitting  he  spoke  to  him  several  times;  and  that  he 
bade  him  farewell  when  he  left. 

He  asked  me  if  I  remembered  "Judge  Bassett,"  of  whom 
I  have  not  once  thought  for  thirty  years. 

1  replied  I  did. 

"Thee  recollects,  then,  his  brown  clothes  and  his  ruffled 
shirt  .^" 

Again,  he  said,  "Thee  remembers  the  Brimstone  Corner.^" 
(Fourth  and  Plum,)  which  was  a  Methodist  church  of  former 
years.  I  rephed  1  did;  and  then  he  said,  "The  Friends' 
meeting-house  on  Fifth  Street  is  turned  into  a  lager-beer 
saloon!"  Then  suddenly  he  asked,  "Does  thee  remember 
the  white  kids  ?" 

I  asked,  "What  kids.?" 

He  added,  "  Those  Joseph  Benham  wore,  when  he  dehvered 
the  address  to  Lafayette  .^" 

"  1  did  remember  them,"  I  said  ;  and  the  spirit  of  my  friend, 
if  it  was  he,  seemed  pleased  with  the  reply.  His  tone  of  voice 
denoted  that  feeling. 

He  continued,  "Does  thee  remember  the  old  German 
woman  that  Lafayette  recognized  in  the  crowd  as  the  person 
who  had  carried  him  milk  when  he  was  imprisoned  at  Olmutz?" 

I  said  I  did  not.  and  asked  him  if  he  did. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  409 

He  replied  tliat  his  "mother  told  him  the  incident,  which 
seems  to  be  one  of  my  own  recollections." 

''Thee  remembers  Harriet  Benham— Mrs.  Prentice?" 

"Yes,"  I  said,  "I  knew  her  all  her  life." 

He  merely  said  :  ''  What  a  singular  woman  !  Amelia  Nolan, 
thee  knows  her  ?" 

I  replied:   "Yes:  very  well.     She  is  thy  sister-in-law." 

He  then  said  that  "she  was  an  excellent  woman,"  adding, 
"But  Ihee  knows  my  opinion  of  her,  and  also  of  her  husband." 

There  was  a  pause  after  this  strange  interview.  Mr.  Piatt, 
as  well  as  myself,  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  inexplicable 
natuie  of  it,  without,  however,  comprehending  it.  The  spirit, 
very  audibly,  said  "  Farewell  "  to  him,  and  then  took  leave  of  me 
in  these  most  impressive  words  :  ''Farewell.  I  will  stand  by 
thee  while  time  lasts  for  thee;  and  when  thee  cojnes  over,  I'll 
be  the  first  to  greet  thee.''' 

FOURTH     SEANCE. 

22d  September.— Mw  Plimpton,  Dr.  Wolfe,  Mr.  Piatt,  Mrs. 
Jordan,  and  myself,  went  into  the  cabinet-room  at  eight  o'clock 
P.  M.  A  large-hand  appeared  at  the  aperture — then  a  hand  and 
arm,  the  hand  with  a  gauze  veil  over  it.  Then  again,  with  a  lily 
of  large  size,  and  perfectly  white.  Afterward,  a  hand  came,  and 
closed  and  opened  ;  and  then,  again,  another  was  thrust  out  into 
the  room,, waving  a  handkerchief.  Then  a  hand  attempted, 
several  times,  to  grasp  the  pencil,  but  failed  to  do  so.  At 
last,  a  message  was  written  on  the  slate,  from  Joseph  Gest.  It 
was  : 

"William,  tell  Erasmus  Canby  ;    he. will  understand  you." 

"Joseph  Gest." 

Then  another :  "  Thee  knows,  William,  that  facts  are  facts." 
Again:  "Tell  Erasmus,  his  uncle,  James  Canby  Moore,  is  here." 
And,  finally,  he  wrote  on  the  slate:  "I  want  thee  to  startle  him 
out  of  his  heathenism." 

In  explanation  of  this  message,  I  may  say  that,  after  the  first 
interview  with  his  father,  I  had  conversed  with  Mr.  E.  Gest, 
and  he  had  avowed  his  partiality  for  Buddha  and  Confucius. 

The  next  appearance  was  a  little  boy's  head  and  face.  "/f 
it  Charley  f  the  lady  asked,  who  thought  it  was  her  little  son. 
There  were  knocks  of  affirmation. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


4IO  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Then  my  friend  Fisher  presented  his  forehead  and  eyes,  as 
usual.     I  requested  him  to  show  me  his  whole  face. 

The  hand  wrote,  ''William,  thee  sees  my  foce." 

I  replied  :  "  No,  not  distinctly — only  a  part  of  it.  Let's  see 
thy  whole  visage." 

The  hand  wrote  again,  ''  The  sotd  is  too  long." 

In  explanation  whereof,  I  may  say  that  Mr.  Fisher  used  to 
assert,  playfully,  that  he  believed  the  chin  to  be  the  residence  of 
the  soul.  It  was  the  distinguishing  feature  of  man  ;  no  animal 
had  it  but  the  horse,  he  said,  and  he  and  man  were  always 
friends  ;  and  the  Centaurs  were  actually  man  and  horse — half 
and  half. 

A  lady's  face  appeared,  which  was  not  recognized;  but  we 
requested  her  to  write  the  name.  There  was  no  answer.  A 
pair  of  very  small  baby-hands  appeared,  and  seemed  to  be  quiv- 
ering at  the  aperture  for  over  two  minutes  ;  then  they  faded 
away. 

Mr.  Fisher  again  showed  his  forehead  and  eyes. 

1  said,  "You  did  better  before  ;  try  to  show  thy  face  entire." 

The  hand  wrote  on  the  slate,  "William,  I  can't  do  better." 

Dr.  Wolfe's  mother  then  came  to  the  aperture,  and  the  doc- 
tor bade  her  "good  evening,"  and  she  nodded,  and  withdrew. 
Then  Lizzie  Odell,  wearing  the  cherry-colored  ribbon  in  her  hair. 

There  was  a  vigorous  knocking  in  the  box,  which  the  doctor 
said  was  a  demand  for  more  music.  Indeed,  he  asked  the  ques- 
tion, and  was  answered  affirmatively.  The  music-box,  however, 
gave  out.  The  knocks  became  violent,  and  the  doctor  proposed 
to  sing.  He  started  the  African  melody  of  the  "  Swanee  River," 
and  when  that  had  been  sung  by  the  company,  "Bonny  Doon" 
succeeded.  Hand  after  baud  came  to  the  aperture,  to  the  number 
of  five  or  six,  and  some  of  them  tried  to  use  the  pencil,  but  with- 
out success.     This  was  attributed  to  the  cessation  of  the  music. 

At  length,  a  hand  wrote  a  message,  which  was  for  Mr.  Piatt, 
and  in  these  words  :  "  Dear,  hand  in  the  slate."  That  was  done 
at  once,  and  soon  the  slate  came  out  again  with  "P.  Grandin, 
John  H.  Piatt,  Louise  Kirby  Piatt,  Mackie,  your  darhng." 

We  requested  further  manifestations,  but  were  answered, 
"No,"  by  knocks  which  the  doctor  interpreted;  and,  on  the 
slate  it  was  written,  "  The  time  has  been  so  long,"  and  also, 
"It  is  too  late." 

A  hand,  supposed   to  be  friend  Fisher's,   wrote,  "William, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPlRrrUALISM,  4I 1 

thy  mother  would  have  given  her  face,"  meaning,  if  nothing  had 
happened  to  retard  tlie  manifestations.  That  foce  was  precisely 
what  I  wanted  to  see,  as  it  would  be  proof  positive  of  the  verity 
of  the  portraits  ;  but  I  never  got  it,  nor  the  whole  face  of  my 
friend  Fislier. 

Mr.  Piatt  received  this  message:  ^' My  dear,  take  care  of 
yourself  and  Ella.  I  will  often  write  you  tests."  The  last  word 
was  scarcely  legible,  and  Mr.  Piatt  requested  it  plainer,  when  it 
was  written  as  above— tests— in  very  plain  character. 

So  the  seance  terminated.  The  accidental  failure  of  the  mu- 
sic having  embarrassed  it,  from  first  to  last,  as  the  doctor  in- 
formed u.^.  The  effect  of  the  music  is  said  to  be  most  decidedly 
upon  the  spectators,  to  concentrate  their  minds,  and  exclude 
wandering  thoughts.  The  spirits  seem  to  be  very  partial^  to  it ; 
but  it  is  of  no  other  consequence  to  them  than  to  predispose 
the  audience  to  receive  and  appreciate  their  communications. 

FIFTH    SEANCE. 

id  October,  A.  M.—l  went  with  Dr.  Curtis  ;  and  it  was  sug- 
gested by  Dr'.  Wolfe  that  the  slate-writing  should  come  first, 
and  then  the  cabinet  scenes.  As  soon  as  we  were  seated,  Mrs. 
Hollis  holding  the  slate  under  the  table,  there  was  written  upon 
it  the  name  of  ''  Mary  Curtis,"  the  doctor's  mother,  whose  full 
name  was  Mary  Ann. 

He  asked,  "  Have  you  any  other  name?" 

"  O  yes  :  there  are  others  here,"  was  the  response  on  the  slate. 

Mrs.  Hollis  then  said:  "Does  any  one  present  know  Dr. 
Atlee  ?     I  get  that  name,  but  nothing  else." 

We  both  replied  that  we  knew  Dr.  Atlee  well.  He  was 
several  years  a  resident  of  this  city. 

Another  message  was  written  on  the  slate: 

''  Well,  Dr.  Curtis,  thee  stands  it  well ! 

"William  Judkins." 

He  was  the  father  of  Jesse  and  David  Judkins,  and  a  good 
physician  here  for  many  years. 

Mrs.  Hollis  observed  that  she  saw  a  tall,  slender  man  in 
the  room,  near  the  doctor,  wearing  a  brown  overcoat,  and  bald; 
but  she  said  he  did  not  give  his  name. 

The  slate  then  showed  the  name,  "  Elizabeth   Curtis,"  that 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


412  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

of  his  present  wife.  The  doctor  said,  '-Refer  to  some  incident 
between  us  aione,  wliich  none  know  but  ourselves."  "I  am 
near  you — Mary  Ann."  Then,  ''  1  am,  every  day."  The  next 
name  was  ''  Harriet  Ann  Curtis,  your  own  dear  wife."  Soon 
after,  a  message,  "This  is  a  very  happy  morning!" 

Tl)e  doctor  then  asked  lier  what  benefit  there  was  in  these 
communicaLions  ?  The  reply  was,  "  I  saved  you  years  of  doubt 
by  them." 

Tlien,  "Elizabeth  can  be  a  good  medium."  Pretty  soon 
afterward,  "  Good-bye  !" 

I  think  lliere  had  been  no  music  during  tlie  writing  part  of 
this  interview. 

We  now  adjourned  to  the  cabinet.  Mrs.  Holhs  walked  with 
us,  and  s[)oke  of  ordinary  things  to  Dr.  Curtis,  Dr.  Wolfe,  who 
joined  us,  and  myself.  She  directly  took  her  seat  in  the  dark 
recess,  co!n[)letely  out  of  sight,  and  there  were  loud  raps  for 
music.  The  box  was  set  a-going.  A  hand  appeared  througli 
the  aperture  holding  a  flower.  1  asked  Dr.  Wolfe's  permission  to 
touch  it.  He  said  the  spirits  did  not  allow  it.  They  would 
touch  his  hand — pat  it  sometimes — but  that  was  all.  It  would 
offend  them  it"  I  attempted  to  grasp  it,  and  we  should  have  no 
more  manifestations.  I  asked  him  to  put  the  question  to  the 
spirits,  which  he  did,  but  the  knocks  answered,  "No!"  Then 
a  hand  appeared,  and  picked  up  the  pencil  and  wrote  down 
these  words,  "  We  are  soriy  you  can  not-  touch  it."  A  hand 
then  wro'te  on  the  slate,  "  Look  if  you  can  see  color?" 

]  asked  the  spirit  of  Mr.  Fisher  if  my  sister  Alice  was  here. 
The  reply  came,  "Alice  is  here."  Then  we  had  the  face  of  a 
lady,  who  was  not  recognized  by  any  of  the  .pijrty.  Then,  an 
old  lady's  face  and  head,  with  a  cap  on,  said  by  Dr.  Wolfe 
to  be  his  mother.  Then  Lizzie  Odell,  with  her  hair  tied  up 
with  a  cherry-colored  ribbon,  which  was  plainly  to  be  seen  and 
distinguished.  Then  Miss  P.  Then  a  beautiful  girl's  face 
and  head.  The  hand  came  through  the  aperture  and  wrote  on 
the  slate,  "  Harriet,  my  dear,  as  a  spirit."  Dr.  Curtis  thought 
it  w^as  his  deceased  wife  materialized.  There  was  then  a  face 
which  obscuiely  showed  itself,  and  might  be  taken  for  ni)'  sister 
Alice  ;    but  she  made  no  ansu  er  to  my  question. 

1  now  asked  Mr.  Elvvood  Fisher  to  show  me,  if  possible, 
his  entire  face.  The  reply  was,  "William,  thee  knows  I  will 
make  a  o^reat  effort !" 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  4 1 3 

He  showed  his  foreliead,  as  lie  had  done  before,  but  with 
the  eyes  open,  and  not  shut.  I  could  see  the  whole  head,  and 
clown  to  below  the  eyes. 

The  hand  wrote"' upon  the  slate:  "William,  thee  was  the 
companion  of  my  boyliood,  and  the  stauncl)  friend  of  my  man- 
hood. When  all  others  deserted,  thee  stood  firm.  1  honor 
thee  for  this  above  ail  men." 

Again  he  wrote,  "1  have  followed  thee  through  all.  Stand 
firm  to  the  P  !" 

''  What  P  ?"  demanded  Dr.  Wolfe.     "  Is  it  Palmetto  ?" 

There  was  an  affirmation  by  knocks  ;  and  the  hand  appeared 
again  and  wrote,  '-William,  thee  knows." 

I  presume  the  allusion  was  to  South  Carohna  and  her  doc- 
trine, she  being  called  the  Palmetto  State.  Mr.  Fisher  had 
named  his  Indiana  farm,  near  Patriot— to  which  he  was  de- 
votedly attached—"  Palmetto." 

Tlie  hand  wrote  again:  '-'Thee  has  entered  upon  a  new 
field  of  thought.  It  will  lead  thee  out  of  the  briers  and  thistles, 
and  make  thy  pathway  pleasant  in  thy  declining  years." 

The  slate  was  taken  into  the- cabinet,  and  shortly  came  out 
with  a  long  message  as  follows,  purporting  to  come  from  my 
friend  Fisher  : 

''If  all  the  wishes  of  thy  friend  could  be  realized,  thy  life 
would  be  one  of  great  pleasantness.  1  was  thy  friend  while 
time  lasted  for  me  ;  and  when  thy  footsteps  echo  through 
heaven,  then  I  will  clasp  thy  hand.  Now  for  eternity— fear  not 
to  cross  the  river.  I,  thy  friend,  will  be  there  first  to  greet 
thee.     Farewell  !     Peace  be  with  thee  I 

"  Elwood,  //zy  devoted  spirit-friendP 

And  then  the  seance  was  concluded,  and  Mrs.  HoUis  came 
out  of  the  cabinet,  appearing  to  be  fatigued;  but  she  descended 
the  stairs  with  us,  and  conversed  as  freely  as  the  rest. 

Mr.  Corry  closes  abruptly;  he  makes  no  ''sum- 
ming up  of  his  opinion;''  he  discharges  the  whole 
subject  without  a  word  of  comment  ;  and,  too,  when 
the  reader  would  consider  his  opinions  golden.  Mr. 
Corry's  thoughts  belong  to  himself,  and  his  discre- 
tion   in    not    obtruding     them     upon    the    public    is 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


414 


STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


worthy  of  approbation.  He  has  made  a  faithful  re- 
port of  the  facts  as  they  came  before  him,  and  that 
was  all  he  was  expected  to  do  ;  he  made  no  prom- 
ise to  do  more.  The  casuist  has  the  whole  field  of 
speculation  to  himself.  He  can  rise  to  explain  as 
much  as  suits  his  purpose,  **  without  let  or  hinder- 
ance."  Mr.  Corry  grants  full  permission,  and  rests 
upon  the  facts.  There  are  no  shifts  in  his  testimony. 
He  states  only  what  he  saw  and  heard,  and  the  reader 
must  judge  whether  he  has  done  it  well  or  not.  He 
has  spoken  fearlessly,  and  in  no  uncertain  sense,  that 
which  he  knows  to  be  true.  He  does  not  hesitate  to 
declare  his  conviction  that  he  conversed  with  his  old 
friend,  El  wood  Fisher ;  that  his  identification  was 
complete.  This  admission  will  constitute  a  new 
epoch  in  the  mental  life  of  W.  M.  Corry.  ^*  Tenipora 
niutanttir,  et  nos  ^mUaimir  in  illisJ' 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  4 1 5 


CHAPTER  XXIIL 

SPIRITS  WRITING  GERMAN  AND  FRENCH— VICKERS 
CONVINCED  THAT  THE  MANIFESTATIONS  WERE 
NOT  FRAUDULENT— MRS.  HOLLIS  COULD  NOT  DO 
THE  WRITING— THE  TEST  OF  A.  P.  C— A  GERMAN 
FABLE— ELWOOD  FISHER—  SPIRIT-HAND  LARGER 
THAN  MRS.  HOLLIS'S-CAN  MAKE  NO  DISCOVERY 
OF  FRAUD  — A  HEIDELBERG  PUPIL  SPEAKS  TO 
MRS.   VICKERS    IN   GERMAN. 

REV.  THOMAS  VICKERS  was  the  fourth,  and 
last,  of  the  representative  men  to  examine  and 
report  upon  the  phenomena  occurring  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Mrs.  Hollis.  He  began  his  investigations 
after  the  others  had  concluded  theirs,  and  at  a  time 
when  the  medium's  mental  condition — on  the  eve  of 
leave-taking — was  unfavorable  for  good  manifesta- 
tions; still  the  phenomena  he  witnessed  were  of 
such  a  startling  character  as  to  convince  the  inves- 
tigator that  they  were  not  the  result  of  trickery  or 
fraud,  practiced  by  either  Mrs.  Hollis  or  myself, 
and  that  on  some  other  hypothesis  must  a  rational 
explanation  be  founded. 

Mr.  Vickers  admits  the  insufficiency  of  the  time 
he  had  for  a  thorough  examination  of  the  principles 
underlying  the  phenomena,  and  hence  he  is  still  open 
to  conviction.     Every  man  has  his  own  discretion,  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


4l6  STARTLING  FACTS  /AT 

course;  but  I  respectfully  submit  whether  adcUtionai 
facts  will  not  produce  additional  perplexity  of  mind. 
Enough  is  as  good  as  a  feast. 

'*  Mrs.  Vickers,"  he  says,  ''was  addressed  by  a  voice 
in  German,  calling  her  by  her  given  name.  To  the 
question,  as  to  where  the  person  speaking  had  known 
her,  the  reply  came,  'In  Heidelberg.'  The  name 
given  was  that  of  a  former  pupil."  To  this  may  be 
added  Mr.  Vickers's  remark,  "  That  he  was  morally 
certain  there  was  no  deception." 

SPIRIT  MANIFESTATIONS, 
ASSEENBY   REV.  THOMAS    VICKERS. 
Dr.  N.  E.  Wolfe  : 

Dear  Sir, — You  were  kind  enough,  in  the  latter  part  of 
1872,  to  afford  me  the  opportunity  to  witness  some  of  the  ^'mani- 
festations" tliat  were  occurring  in  your  house,  "in  the  presence 
of  Mis.  Mary  J,  Hohis."  In  return  for  tliis  kindness,  I  cheer- 
fully comply  with  your  request,  to  make  some  report  of  what 
I  saw  and  heard.  You  will  remember  that,  unfoitunately  for 
the  prosecution  of  any  extended  investigation,  I  did  not  become 
aware  of  Mrs.  Hollis's  being  in  the  city  until  very  near  her  de- 
parture ;  so  that  the  seances  in  which  I  could  participate  were 
few.  It  is,  tlierefore,  not  surprising  that  the  result  was  not,  on 
the  whole,  so  satisfactory  to  myself  as  I  could  have  wished. 
Still  there  are  some  things  of  importance  to  which  I  can 
testify. 

I  was  present  at  five  sittings  in  all.  Two  of  these  were  de- 
voted to  slate-writing,  two  to  the  dark  circle,  and  one  to 
manifestations  from  tlie  cabinet.  I  need  not  describe  the  ac- 
cessories of  these  sittings;  this  has  been  done  so  minutely  and 
so  accurately  by  my  friend  Mr.  F.  B.  Plimpton,  in  the  Cincin- 
nati Co7nf/te7rial  2.nd  the  Washington  Capital^  that  it  is  unnec- 
essary (o  go  over  the  same  ground  again. 

For  some  reason  or  otlier,  the  communications  which  I  re- 
ceived through  writing  on  the  slate  were,  so  far  as  their  matter 
was  concerned,  very  unsatisfactory  indeed.     At  the  first  sitting, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  4 1  / 

which  took  place  in  the  morning  of  September  28lh,  there  was 
considerable  writing  done,  but  to  little  purpose.  The  first  com- 
munication which  came,  consisted,  apparently,  of  eiglit  words  ; 
only  the  first  four  words  of  which  were  legible.  These  were  as 
follows  : 

''''Bin  geyn  so  liter.''''  ^• 

It  was  suggested  that  the  remaining  words  might  be  written 
over  again,  when,  after  a  slight  pause,  the  following  was  written  : 
*'  Votes  votts  portez  Men  J^espereP 

I  then  inquired  whether  these  were  the  words  which  had 
previously  been  illegible,  and  received  the  answer,  "-  No  :  the 
first  was  German."  Upon  inquiry  as  to  whether  I  liad  read  the 
first  communication  correctly,  it  was  answered, '' You  did."  I 
then  asked  whether  I  had  interpreted  the  signature  {G)  cor- 
rectly, which  was  attached  to  the  German  words;  and  the  re- 
sponse was,  "  Yes,  G."  On  requesting  that  the  name  represented 
by  this  initial,  be  written  out  in  full,  I  received  the  following: 
<' Thomas  Vickers." 

Q,  "Is  that  the  name  of  the  person  communicating  ?" 
A.  "Yes  :  and  your  name." 

Q.  "What  relation  is  he  of  mine?" 

A,  "William  Vickers." 

Q.  "  Will  the  person  who  signed  the  first  (German)  commu- 
nication give  his  name  in  full  ?" 

A.  "Elizabeth  Vickers." 

Q.  '' Der  Schreiber  der  ersten  Mittheilnng  mcBchte  seinen 
vollen  Namen  gebenT 

A,  "Yes."     '^ 

Q.  "Will  he  do  it?" 

The  name  that  was  written  in  answer  to  this  question  was 
illegible;  it  seemed  to  be  "Minna  Genlis."  A  request  was 
made  that  it  be  written  over  again,  but  the  second  time,  it  was 
less  distinct  than  before. 

Q.  ''  Can  you  not  give  this  name  more  distinctly?" 

A.  (What  seemed  to  be)  >"Gustav.     Yes." 

Q.  "Give  the  last  name." 

^."Conrad."    (With  an  indistinct  surname.) 

Another  attempt  was  made  to  write  the  name,  but  with  no 
better  result.     The  name  seemed  to  be  "Richer."      On  asking 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


4l8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

wliether  tliat  was  the  name,  it  was  answered  affirmatively.  Two 
further  efforts  were  made  to  write  it,  resultiiio^,  each  time,  in  an 
illegible  scrawl.  It  was  then  suggested,  by  Mrs.  Hollis,  that  I 
write  something  upon  the  slate,  addressed  to  a  friend,  without 
permitting  her  to  see  it.     I  wrote  the  following: 

"  VVemi  irgend  eiim'  ineiner  Fretmde  da  ist,  so  utcEchte  er 
so  gut  seiii,  semen  Nainen  aiiZ7igebeit.^^ 

The  slate  was  then  held  under  the  table  by  Mrs.  Hollis,  for 
a  considerable  space  of  time,  but  no  response  came.  I  after- 
ward wrote  the  same  request,  in  English,  as  follows  : 

"If  there  is  any  one  of  my  friends  here^  let  him  be  good 
enough  to  give  me  his  name." 

To  this  there  was,  for  some  time,  no  response  ;   finally,  there 
came    an    illegible    line    of   three    words,    with    the    signature, 
"Thomas    Vickers."      I    then    wrote   upon   the   slate,    without 
allowing  Mrs.  Holhs  to  see  it,  the  following: 
"Is  A.  P.  C.  here.?" 

To  this  there  came,  after  a  pause,  the  answer: 

"P.  C.  is  here." 

This  induced  me  to  put  the  question  in  a  plainer  form,  by 
writing  out  the  surname  in  full.  \\\  each  case  I  turned  the 
slate  upside  down,  before  giving  it  to  the  medium,  and  she 
placed  it  under  the  table,  in  tlie  same  position.  The  last 
questions  and  answer  were  as  follows: 

Q.  ''U  A.  P.  C y  here.?" 

A.   "Yes:    A.  P.  C y  is  here." 

Q.  "Have  you  not  something  to  say  to  me  ?" 

A.  "Can't  write." 

This  ended  the  sitting.  I  have  given  you  here  an  exact 
report  of  all  the  writing  that  was  done.  At  intervals  during 
the  seance,  Mrs.  Hollis  described  some  persons  whom  she  saw 
about  me,  but  none  of  them  in  such  a  manner  that  I  could 
recognize  them.  In  the  beginning,  she  asked  me  whether  I 
was  a  German,  saying,  at  the  same  time,  that  she  saw  many 
Germans  ai'ound  me.  I  replied  that  I  was  not  German,  but 
understood  the  language.  The  remark,  hereupon,  that  she 
often  received  communications  in  German,  led  me  to  ask  some 
q  .estions  in  tiiat  tongue. 

From  the  nature  of  the  above  report,  you  will  see  that  if 
the  spirits  had  undertaken  to  play  at  cross-purposes  with  me, 
they  could  not  have  done  it  more  successfully  than  they  did. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  419 

I  certainly  was  in  a  position  to  appreciate  the  remark  made 
by  you  toward  the  close  of  the  sitting:  "One  of  the  peculiar- 
ities of  this  thing  is,  that  tlie  thing  you  want  you  don't  get." 
Nevertlieless,  1  am  free  to  confess  that  the  fact  of  any  writ- 
ing at  all  being  produced,  under  the  circumstances,  was  suffi- 
ciently astonishing.  1  watched  Mrs.  HoUis  very  narrowly 
during  the  sitting,  and  was  morally  convinced  that  it  was  done 
without  fraud  on  her  part.  I  think  it  impossible  tliat  she  could 
have  done  the  writing  herself,  without  my  discovering  it.  Her 
left-hand  was  in  view  all  the  time;  she  held  the  slate  with  her 
right,  with  nothing  to  rest  it  upon.  The  room  was  well  lighted  ; 
no  accomplice  could  have  been  present.  What,  then,  produced 
the  writing  ?     I  do  not  know  ;  and  I  have  no  theory  to  offer. 

The  next  sitting  was  on  September  30th,  in  the  dark  circle. 
There  were,  if  I  remember  rightly,  seven  persons  present  in 
all,  including  Mrs.  Mollis  and  yourself.  I  sliall  not  attempt  to 
give  a  full  report  of  this  occasion,  for  the  reason  that  nearly 
all  the  communications  came  to  other  members  of  the  circle. 
There  was  considerable  singing,  which,  so  far  as  I  could  judge, 
did  not  proceed  fiom  any  one  in  the  circle.  I  heard  very 
distinctly  a  voice  speaking  in  German,  in  aloud  whisper,  with 
the  Rev.  Di".  Max  Lillienthal,  who  sat  at  some  distance  from 
me.  The  voice  purporting  to  come  from  James  Nolan  was, 
although  somewhat  hoarse,  perfectly  natural;  so  much  so, 
indeed,  that  it  was  difficult  to  realize  that  the  speaker  was  not 
in  the  flesh.  One  singular  utterance  of  his  is  worth  particular- 
izing. Several  of  us  were  taking  notes,  although  the  room  was 
in  utter  darkness.  All  at  once  the  voice  said,  "Take  care 
how  you  cross  your  lines  !"  When  I  came  to  look  over  my 
notes  afterward,  I  found  that,  in  running  lines  between  the 
sentences,  I  had,  previous  to  the  caution,  crossed  out  some  of 
the  words.  The  voices  that  attempted  to  communicate  with 
me  were  very  weak;  and  I  was  unable  to  identify,  beyond  the 
possibility  of  a  doubt,  those  from  whom  they  purported  to 
come.  I  asked  for  the  full  middle  name  of  the  "A.  P.  C."  who 
had  written  upon  the  slate,  but  was  unable  to  obtain  it. 

The  following  seance  occurred  October  2d.  Mrs.  Vickers 
and  1  were  the  only  persons  present,  excepting  the  medium 
and  yourself  It  was  intended  to  devote  the  sitting  wholly 
to  "materializations,"  but  it  turned  out,  quite  unexpectedly, 
that  considerable  writinof  was  done.     Before  Mrs.  Hollis  entered 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


420  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

tlie  cabinet,  I  examined  the  form  and  size  of  her  hand  very 
careful]}^;  the  palm  of  it  was  blackened.  Tlie  room  was  suffi- 
ciently light  to  enable  us  to  see  ail  the  objects  in  it  distinctly. 
It  was  proposed  at  first  to  do  without  the  music;  very  soon, 
however,  a  hand  appeared  at  the  apei"tui-e,  and  wrote  upon 
the  slate:  ^'We  want  the  music!"  The  music-box  was  started, 
and  directly  afterward  the  following  was  written: 

^' You  remember  the  old  man  and  his  son  and  the  ass  ?" 

We  did  not  remember.     The  writing  was  continued  : 
^'Tliey  were  riding  double-first,  and  were  told  by  the  people 
it  was  cruel." 

After  we  had  read  this,  the  slate  and  pencil  were  taken  in 
at  the  aperture.     When  put  out  again,  we  found  the  following: 

"The  boy  got  off.  The  old  man  was  told  he  was  a  brute  to 
let  the  poor  boy  walk,  and  so  on,  until  they  drove  the  ass  to 
please  the  people.     So  you  may  do,  if  you  listen  to  every  one." 

This  was  followed  by  the  words  : 

*^  It  is  a  German  fable.     Do  you  remember  it,  Mrs.  Vickers  ?" 

After  this,  a  fiice  appeared  at  the  aperture,  but  not  clearly 
defined,  and  keeping  much  in  the  background,  toward  the  side. 
There  was  some  resemblance  to  a  very  dear  friend  of  mine. 
But  still  the  face  kept  so  much  in  the  shade  that  I  could  not 
feel  certain  about  it.  The  use  of  an  opera-glass  did  not  help 
the  matter.  Apparently  the  face  made  several  efforts  to  come 
nearer,  for  the  purpose  of  showing  itself  more  distinctly,  but 
without  success.  The  slate  was  then  resorted  to  again,  and  the 
following  was  written  : 

"O  Thomas!  it  is  I.     A.  P.  C." 

After  this  a  face  appeai-ed.  which  was  announced  to  be  that 
of  '^Ehvood  Fisher."  Then  a  number  of  baby  hands  were 
shown,  the  fingers  were  opened  and  shut,  and  the  hands  moved 
about  in  various  directions.  Then  quite  a  number  of  faces 
appeared  in  succession,  eight  or  ten  in  all.  None  of  them, 
however,  were  recognized  either  by  Mrs.  Vickers  or  by  myself. 
Some  of  them  were  very  distinct  and  life-like.  Arms  were 
also  shown,  and  moved  about.  In  legard  to  these  latter,  it 
must  be  said  that  they  were  masculine  and  sinewy;  and  I 
could  not  conceive  them  to  be  those  of  Mrs.  Hollis.  So, 
also,  of  the  hand  which  did  the  writing.  It  was  much  larger 
than  that  of  Mrs.  Hollis,  and  of  an  entirely  different  shape. 
Unless  all  evidence  of  the  sense  of  sight  be  delusive,  it  could 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  42 1 

not  possibly  have  been  hers.  Of  course,  it  would  have  been 
an  additional  satisfaction  if  tlie  request  wliich  I  made,  to  be 
allowed  to  take  hold  of  it,  had  been  granted.  Still,  I  am  bound 
to  say  that,  after  careful  examination  both  of  the  cabinet  and 
of  the  room  where  the  dark  circle  occurred,  I  could  discover 
no  indications  of  the  probability  of  fraud.  I  do  not  think  there 
was  any. 

The  last  two  sittings  took  place  on  the  5th  of  October,  in  the 
morning.  The  first  of  them  was  devoted  to  slate-writing.  The 
first  question  which  I  put  was  written  on  the  slate  in  the  same 
manner  as  at  the  first  sitting:  ''Is  any  friend  of  mine  or  of  Mrs. 
Vickers's  here  ?"  After  the  lapse  of  thirty  minutes,  this  answer 
came:  "Spirits  are  here."  I  (hen  asked,  *' Can  you  give  the 
names  of  any?"  In  about  half  an  hour  more,  we  received  tlie 
following:  "Thomas  and  Lena  Vickers,  good  morning."  Mrs. 
Vickers  then  wrote,  without  permitting  Mrs.  Mollis  to  see  it,  a 
question  in  German.  When  the  answer  came,  after  long  wait- 
in^*-,  it  was  wholly  at  random.  These  were  all  the  direct  com- 
munications we  received,  during  two  hours.  Mrs.  Hollis  de- 
scribed various  persons  as  being  present,  but  we  were  unable 
to  recognize  any  of  them.  She  also  said  that  she  saw  written, 
in  bright  characters,  over  my  head  : 

"  Mine  was  a  love  that  died  not  with  my  breathing,  but 
through  all  eternity  it  will  grow  brighter  and  brighter." 

I  was  somewhat  astonished  at  this,  for  the  reason  that  these 
identical  words  had  been  uttered,  by  one  of  the  spirit-voices,  to 
another  person  at  the  first  of  the  dark  circles  at  which  I  was 
present     I  heard  them  distinctly. 

It  was  concluded,  after  this,  to  try  the  dark  circle.  We  pro- 
ceeded to  the  room  used  for  that  purpose.  After  some  prelim- 
inary music,  Mrs.  Vickers  was  addressed  by  a  voice,  in  German, 
callinty  her  by  her  given  name.  To  the  question  as  to  where  the 
person  speaking  had  known  her,  the  reply  came:  "In  Heidel- 
berg." The  name  given,  was  that  of  a  former  pupil.  I  was 
again  addressed  by  a  voice  purporting  to  come  from  "A.  P.  C." 
On  asking  for  the  full  name,  the  first  and  last  were  repeated, 
with  great  distinctness,  ten  or  a  dozen  times  ;  and,  finall}^,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  also  the  middle  name.  I  was  very  persistent  in 
trying  to  get  the  name,  for  this  reason  that  I  was  certain  that  no 
one  in  Cincinnati,  except  myself,  knew  what  the  middle  initial 
stood  for      The  rest  of  what  was  said  by  these  voices  consisted 

33 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


422  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

of  expressions  of  interest  nnd  affection.      Again,  several  spirits 
were  describt-d  by  Mrs.  Mollis;  but  they  were  not  recognized. 

In  conclusion,  1  can'only  say  that  I  witnessed  at  your  house, 
phenomena  which  I  am  unable  to  explain.  I  am  morally  certain 
that  there  was  no  deception  in  the  production  of  them;  still,  I 
am  not  thoroughly  convinced  that  they  were  produced  through 
the  agency  of  disembodied  spirits.  What  the  future  may  do 
toward  convincing  nie  of  this,  I  do  not  know.  I  can  only  wait 
for  further  revelations.  Thanking  30U  for  your  kindness, 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  yours, 

Thomas  Vickers. 
Cincinnati,  June  17,  1873. 

This  closes  the  last  report  of  the  four  representa- 
tive men  who  engaged  to  investigate  the  phenomena 
which  occurred  in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Hollis,  while 
a  guest  in  my  family.  How  well  they  have  accom- 
plished their  work,  the  intelligent  reader  must  de- 
termine. These  statements  are  made  in  compliance 
with  terms  stipulated  in  my  card  of  invitation  ;  but 
the  gentlemen  were  left  {\-^q  to  represent  the  facts  of 
the  manifestations,  whatever  they  might  be,  as  to 
them  seemed  just  and  proper. 

Personally,  I  had  no  acquaintance  with  either  of 
these  gentlemen,  until  they  entered  my  house  to  ex- 
amine the  phenomena.  But,  like  most  of  my  fellow- 
citizens,  I  knew  them  well  by  report.  I  had  every 
reason  to  believe  that  Mi-s.  Hollis  would  not  receive 
any  favor  at  the  hands  of  these  keen-sighted  men,  if 
found  guilty  of  practicing  a  fraud.  With  that  under- 
standing, I  invited  them  to  investigate. 

What  they  saw  and  heard  is  now  before  the 
reader.  It  was  my  desire  to  have  published  these 
reports  in  the  Cincinnati  Commercial ;  but  after  Mn 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  423 

Plimpton's  statement  appeared  in  that  journal,  the 
editor  debarred  the  others  by  saying:  ''We  have  had 
enough  of  this  thing!  It's  making  these  men  too 
d— d  conspicuous." 

It  was  "more  in  sorrow  than  in  anger"  I  listened 
to  this  terrible  profanity  of  Mr.  Halstead,  of  which 
I  fear  the  "recording  angel,"  with  no  "dhrop  in  his 
eye,"  made  a  note.  I  had  always  esteemed  brother 
Halstead  a  truly  moral  and  sweet  man,  and,  next 
to  Uncle  John  Robinson,  the  most  pious  man  in 
Cincinnati.  The  story  is  fresh  in  my  memory,  how 
with  his  little  hatchet  he  hacked  his  father's  tree, 
and  then  told  his  pa,  with  tears  in  his  eyes:  '' I  can 
not  tell  a  lie  !  Deacon  Smith  did  it  /"  It  was  so  cute 
of  the  little  rascal  to  put  it  on  Smith,  and  I  always 
loved  him  for  cutting  that  tree. 

But  since  he  has  taken  to  imprecation,  I  fear  he 
has  wrought  a  great  change  in  my  love.  It  grieves 
me  to  think  he  has  excluded  himself,  by  his  horrid 
profanity,  from  the  fellowship  of  the  good,  pious 
members  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associatibn. 
I  hope  they  will  pray  for  him. 

On  my  bended  knees  I  said  :  "  Brother  Halstead, 
tl^e  <^ — cl  conspicuous'  fellows  to  whom  you  allude, 
investigated  spiritual  phenomena,  as  representative 
men,  and  the  public  expect  to  read  their  reports  in 
your  paper.  This  fact  ought,  in  some  degree,  to  ex- 
cuse that  'conspicuity'  to  which  you  take  such  pro- 
fane exceptions.     Doesn't  thee  think  so,  sweet  Hal?" 

It  was  asking  too  much  !  An  awful  frown  gath- 
ered upon  his  brow  (such  as  Jove  is  supposed  to 
wear  when   he   launches  a  thunderbolt),  as  he  made 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


424  STAR TLING  FACTS  IN 

this  reply,  in  tones  that  would  have  mellowed  the 
bellowing  of  a  buffalo  bull,  ''  Fit  make  yoti  sorry  you 
have  had  any  thing  to  do  with  it!' 

Whatever  others  may  think  of  this  upstart*s 
menace,  Mr.  Murat  Halstead  evidently  entertains  a 
high  opinion  of  his  own  ability  to  make  people  sony. 
At  times  he  believes  the  sun  rises  and  sets  only  by 
his  behests,  and  that  it  illumes  no  other  object  than 
the  Cincinnati  Commercial.  Thus  fooled  and  flat- 
tered to  his  bent,  this  addle-pated  newspaper  scav- 
enger presumes  to  determine  what  shall  be  joy  and 
what  grief  to  those  who  sneer  at  his  pompous  drivel. 
If  he  can  make  any  body  ''sup  sorrow  with  his  horn- 
spoon,"  why  do  n't  he  do  it?  The  fact  is,  ''the  wish 
is  father  to  the  thought,"  but  his  courage  is  impo» 
tent  as  Bob  Acres'. 

Halstead's  knowledge  of  spirit  phenomena  has 
been  acquired  while  snooting  among  his  exchange- 
papers  for  "copy  items."  If  he  were  not  a  sniveling 
mountebank,  he  never  would  have  entertained  the 
silly  conceit  that  he  could  make  me  sorry  for  having 
examined  the  law  and  testimony  upon  which  the  facts 
of  Spiritualism  rest. 

"The  beagle's  bark's  more  baleful  than  his  bite." 

Intercourse  between  the  natural  and  the  spirit 
world  is  as  much  a  truth  as  telegraphic  communi- 
cation between  Europe  and  America.  It  is  utterly 
inconsequential  to  the  fact,  whether  time-servino- 
editors,  priests,  or  politicians  recognize  this  truth  or 
not.  They  are  fleeting  as  Summer  clouds  ;  but  the 
verities  of  God  endure  forever. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  425 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

MANIFESTATIONS  IN  MEMPHIS—ON  THE  THOMPSON 
DEAN— IN  NEW  ORLEANS— ALONG  THE  RAIL— MRS. 
HOLLIS'S  RETURN  TO  CINCINNATI— A  REMARKA- 
BLE INTERVIEW   WITH  FANNY   WRIGHT. 

THE  manifestations  that  occurred  during  the  fifth 
engagement  with  Mrs.  Hollis  did  not  vary  much 
in  character  from  those  that  have  been  recorded. 
It  would  be,  therefore,  monotonous  to  repeat,  in 
detail,  that  with  which  the  reader  is  already  familiar. 
The  engagement  was  a  success  in  affording  a  large 
number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  the  opportunity  to 
witness  the  startling  phenomena  which  have  excited 
so  much  interest  among  thoughtful  people. 

The  seances  were  given  mostly  to  persons  who 
might,  with  propriety,  be  called  representative  men 
and  women.  My  object  was  to  make  the  best  use 
of  the  stipulated  time,  by  presenting  the  facts  of 
spirit  intercourse  to  the  skeptical  mind — not  includ- 
ing in  such  either  bigots,  fanatics,  or  fools.  There 
are  two  classes  of  skeptics  which  require  to  be  in- 
telligently discriminated,  else  injustice  may  be  done 
both  ;  and  I  may  as  well  designate  their  leading 
characteristics  in  this  place,  to  avoid  all  obscurity  on 
the  subject. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


426  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

In  general  terms,  they  may  be  distinguished — ;the 
skeptic  with  brains,  and  the  skeptic  without  brains. 
The  first  is  governed  by  reason,  and  takes  a  thought- 
ful survey  of  conditions  and  things,  and  arrives  at 
conclusions  after  exercising  the  legitimate  powers  of 
mind  upon  the  subject  considered.  The  second 
simply  says:  *'I'm  very  skeptical!  I  don't  believe 
every  thing  I  see  !  Your  eyes  may  deceive  you  !"  etc. 
These  latter  are  sagacious  poodles,  who  have,  accord- 
ing to  Darwin's  theory,  developed  in  human  forms. 
Whenever  practical,  I  always  exclude  this  latter  class 
of  bipeds  from  the  circles  ;  not  that  I  have  any  thing 
against  them — for  they  are  well  enough  in  their  place- 
but  it  is  a  waste  of  time  to  encourage  such  people 
to  investigate  spiritual  phenomena  by  their  peculiar 
mental  processes.  My  experience  in  the  formation 
of  circles  convinces  me  that  good  manifestations  can 
only  be  had  in  the  presence  of  enlightened,  free- 
thinking  people;  and  that  the  most  intelligent  spirits 
are  stifled  by  fashionably  dressed  imbeciles. 

To  a  clairvoyant's  vision,  it  is  seen  that  every 
man  atid  woman  gives  out  accurate  expression  of 
their  spiritual  conditions  by  the  character  of  the 
magnetic  aura  that  surrounds  them.  This  spirit  at- 
mosphere has  color  and  density,  and  by  these  qualities 
the  character  of  the  spirit's  development  may  at  once 
be  determined.  An  individual  in  an  undeveloped 
condition  is  surrounded  by  a  dark  aura,  graduated  in 
color  to  represent  the  degree  of  ignorance  that  still 
holds  the  faculties  of  the  soul  in  bondage.  Spirits 
and  mortals  alike  gather  no  inspiration  in  the  presence 
of   such    unwholesome  people.      It    is    best  to  avoid 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  427 

them  ;  for  they  neither  impart  nor  receive  benefit 
by  associating  with  those  unUke  themselves.  It  is 
not  doing  a  man  a  good  service  to  place  him  in 
wrong  relations  to  his  fellow-men.  That  is  why  I 
exclnde  a  large  number  of  people  from  the  circles. 
A  well-dressed  woman — -that  is,  one  who  had  a  su- 
perabundance of  costly  silk  goods  festooned  about 
her  poor  skinny  skeleton,  in  the  most  killing  style — 
came  to  my  door,  and  inquired  if  ''the  fortune- 
teller" was  in!  Of  course,  I  had  to  inform  this 
almost  idiotic  creature — -this  manakin  of  fashion — 
that  she  was  slightly  in  error  respecting  the  character 
of  Mrs.  Hollis's  mediumship.  She  wanted  to  find  out 
whether  Sam  Snigglefritz  was  not  in  love  with  her. 
I  told  her  to  ask  Sam's  priest,  that  he  would  be  most 
likely  to  confess  his  folly  to  a  fool  or  knave.  It  is  to 
be  hoped  that  spiritualism  will  never  become  fashion- 
able ;  and  when  it  begins  to  build  churches,  and 
crystallize  stupid  dogmas  into  creeds,  then  it  will 
no  longer  be  spiritualism,  but  sectism,  and  be  deserv- 
ing of  the  execration  of  all  good  men. 

By  a  judicious  discrimination  in  forming  circles, 
allowing  those  only  to,  enter  them  who  could  com- 
prehend the  importance  of  spirit  intercourse  to  the 
world,  I  have  reason  to  know,  many  persons  changed 
their  views  during  the  month  of  November,  who  now 
rejoice  in  the  possession  of  knowledge  wiiich  time 
can  not  corrupt  nor  moth  destroy.  These  seances 
could  have  been  continued  during- the  entire  Winter; 
as  the  interest  in  them  grew  more  intense,  the  more 
they  were  understood.  Mrs.  Hollis  had,  however, 
accepted  engagements  for  the  Winter  in  the  South, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


428  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

principally  in  the  cities  of  Nashville  and  Memphis, 
Tennessee.  These  engagements  were  made  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  spirits,  for  a  purpose  they  subse- 
quently explained  ;  the  object  being  to  remove  some 
errors  from  the  mind  of  the  medium,  which  operated 
against  the  purity  of  their  control.  They  insist  that 
the  best  mediums  are  those  who  have  developed  out 
of  wrong  mental  conditions.  The  folly  the  spirits 
sought  to  arrest  in  this  medium  was  the  habit  she 
had  of  thinking  and  speaking  of  Southern  people  as 
if  they  were  superior  to  their  fellow-citizens  in  other 
sections  of  our  common  country.  The  fact  was, 
simply,  that  her  whole  mental  structure  was  so  much 
warped  by  politics  and  poisoned  by  prejudice,  that 
she  was  unfitted  for  their  high  purpose,  and  failed  to 
do  their  work  acceptably. 

After  a  short  stay  in  Nashville,  she  began  a  two- 
months'  engagement  in  Memphis,  under  the  auspices 
of  Captain  James  Holmes  and  his  accomplished  and 
talented  wife,  Mary  J.  Holmes,  in  whose  family  she 
became  an  honored  guest.  Here,  the  same,  or  similar 
manifestations  to  those  I  had  witnessed  in  Cincinnati, 
occurred  in  the  presence  of  some  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent people  of  that  city.  The  leading  newspapers  of 
the  place,  the  Appeal  and  Avalanche,  opened  their 
columns  daily  to  the  discussion  of  the  wonderful  phe- 
nomena, until  the  subject  of  spirit  intercourse  was 
talked  about,  as  it  never  had  been, before,  by  all 
classes  of  people,  in  every  situation  of  life. 

In  the  midst  of  the  excitement,  I  precipitated  a 
visit  to  Memphis,  to  compare  the  manifestations  oc- 
curring there  with  those  I  had  witnessed  in  the  Queen 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  429 

City,  and,  if  possible,  discover  any  human  agency  that 
might  be  employed  in  their  production. 

^'Slate-writing"  and  ''dark  circles"  were  given  at 
the  dwelling  of  Captain  Holmes  ;  but  the  cabinet 
seances  were  held  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  M.  H. 
Baldwin,  a  well-known  architect  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen,  who  had  been  convinced  of  the  verity  of  spirit 
intercourse  in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Hollis.  The 
cabinet  was  simply  a  plastered  wardrobe,  an  adjunct 
to  a  well-lighted  chamber  on  the  second  floor,  the  door 
of  which  had  been  removed,  and  a  temporary  one  ad- 
justed, with  a  hole  cut  in  the  center,  about  four  feet 
from  the  floor.  Before  this  aperture,  scores  of  in- 
telligent men  and  women  assembled,  to  stare,  with  sur- 
prised senses,  upon  the  forms,  faces,  arms,  and  hands 
of  their  loved  ones,  who  came  for  recognition,  waving 
welcomes  with  handkerchiefs,  and  presenting  for  in- 
spection flowers  that  had  bloomed  in  gardens  above. 
The  excitement  over  these  manifestations  grew  wild 
and  bewildering.  That  was  the  most  unfavorable 
circumstance  I  noticed.  If  there  ever  is  a  situa- 
tion that  requires  a  clear  head  and  deliberate  judg- 
ment, it  is  just  such  a  one  as  this.  The  claims 
presented  are,  that  the  lost  are  living,  that  they  have 
never  died,  that  they  return  to  demonstrate  the  truth 
of  immortal  life :  in  short,  that  there  is  no  death, 
under  its  old  definition;  that  there  is  no  devil  but 
that  which  we  make  in  our  distempered  imaginations. 

I  found  all  these  seances  largely  attended  by  the 
most  capable  people  of  Memphis,  most  of  whom  had 
become  convinced  of  the  ingenuousness  of  the  mani- 
festations.     Mr.   William   L.  Vance   and   wife   were 

39 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


430  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

prominent  among  the  attached  friends  of  Mrs.  HoHis, 
made  such  through  her  wonderful  mediumship. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mrs.  Hollis's  engagement  in 
Memphis,  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  tendered 
her  a  complimentary  passage  to  New  Orleans  and 
back,  on  one  of  the  floating  palaces  of  the  Mississippi, 
proposing  to  make  it  a  pleasant  spiritual  picnic.  I 
was  invited  to  join  the  party  in  their  bo7i  voyage,  and 
accepted  the  invitation,  thinking  something  might 
*' turn  up,"  in  an  unguarded  moment,  by  which  a  clew 
to  the  manifestations  could  be  obtained.  I  wanted  to 
see  this  thing  from  different  stand-points,  cost  what  it 
might  of  time,  money,   or    personal  comfort. 

The  distance  from  Memphis  to  New  Orleans  is 
eight  hundred  miles  by  the  river,  and  from  New  Or- 
leans to  Louisville,  by  rail,  is  fourteen  hundred  miles. 
All  this  distance — twenty-two  hundred  miles — I  trav- 
eled with  the  medium  and  her  friends,  with  the  single 
purpose  to  discover,  if  possible,  fraud  in  the  mani- 
festations. On  the  boat,  almost  a  week— morning, 
noon,  and  night — the  manifestations  of  spirit-presence 
were  similar  to  those  I  had  witnessed  at  my  own 
house,  and  again  in  Memphis.  They  occurred  in  the 
main  saloon,  in  private  state-rooms,  in  "  texas,"  up 
aloft  in  the  presence  of  the  pilots  at  the  wheel, 
Wallace  Lamb  and  Sobeski  Jollie. 

Information  of  her  coming  had  preceded  the  ar- 
rival of  Mrs.  Hollis  at  New  Orleans;  and  when  the 
steamer  was  lashed  up  to  the  wharf,  conveyances  for 
herself  and  party  were  awaiting  them.  A  suit  of 
rooms  had  been  engaged  for  manifestations,  but  these 
she  declined,  as  she  was  the  invited  guest  of  Mrs. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  43  I 

Lizzie  Saxon,  at  whose  dwelling  she  gave,  durhig 
the  short  tune  she  remained,  manifestations  of  the 
same  startling  character  I  had  witnessed  on  the  boat, 
at  Memphis,  and  in  Cincinnati,  The  marvel  and 
mystery  were  the  same. 

Most  of  our  party  returned  north  with  the  me- 
dium, through  the  Cotton  States,  by  rail.  As  we  sped 
along  fourteen  hundred  miles,  the  spirits  would  write 
interesting  matter  about  the  places  we  were  passing 
and  the  persons  we  met. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  neither  time,  place,  nor 
circumstance  prevented  the  occurrence  of  these  man- 
ifestations in  the  presence  of  this  strangely  consti- 
tuted woman. 

While  en  route  for  home,  Mrs.  Hollis  informed  me 
that  the  spirits  had  accepted  invitations  from  distin- 
guished persons  abroad,  to  visit  Europe,  and  that  she 
would  start  on  her  voyage  about  the  first  of  June. 
I  then  arranged  for  her  final  visit  to  Cincinnati  about 
the  middle  of  March,  to  remain  until  the  first  of  May. 
I  did  this  mainly  to  carry  forward  a  line  of  experi- 
ments at  the  writing-table,  which  began  to  interest 
my  mind,  though  I  well  knew  the  public  would  be 
exacting  in  their  demands  for  private  seances. 

That  no  time  might  be  wasted  in  advance  of  her 
coming,  I  employed  Mr.  Brown  to  take  down  the 
partition  in  the  middle  room,  as  I  intended  the  whole 
space  for  a  materializing  cabinet.  To  fit  it  for  this 
purpose,; my  instructions  to  him  were  to  take  out  the 
two  upper  panels  of  the  door  opening  into  the  west 
room,  and  hang  them  on  hinges,  and  cut  a  hole  in  the 
south  one  similar  to  that  in  the  door  of  the  partition. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


432  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

This  being  completed,  the  west  room  would  constitute 
the  audience-chamber  for  witnessing  the  phenomena. 
When  the  panel  of  the  door  was  opened,  there  was  an 
aperture  forty  inches  in  length  and  ten  inches  wide. 
This  would  enable  spirits  to  show  more  of  their 
forms,  and,  if  need  be,  accommodate  a  larger  number 
to  exhibit  themselves  at  the  same  time. 

The  question  was  now,  could  the  spirits  material- 
ize at  so  large  an  aperture  ?  When  the  door  was 
opened,  the  interior  of  the  room  was  flooded  with  light. 
It  was  almost  equivalent  to  inviting  them  to  step  out 
where  we  were.  Would  not  the  bright  light,  streaming 
through  this  opening  into  the  dark  chamber,  destroy 
the  conditions,  or  so  modify  them  as  to  render  ma- 
terialization impractical  ?  There  was  no  cloth  to  cover 
the  opening.  When  the  panel  swung  back,  the  chan- 
nel for  inflooding  light  was  clear.  The  audience  could 
see  a  large  part  of  the  interior  of  the  cabinet-room 
plainly.  The  bug-a-boo  objections  raised  against  the 
medium  being  locked  up  in  a  cabinet,  or  being  con- 
cealed behind  a  partition,  were  now  mostly  overcome. 
If  the  medium  appeared  at  an  opening  of  the  door 
large  enough  to  reveal  her  entire  person,  she  would 
under  a  strong  light,  be  recognized  at  once  by  dis- 
cerning men  and  women.     So  could  the  spirits  be. 

Mrs.  Hollis  arrived  on  Saturday,  15 th.  On  Sun- 
day morning,  during  the  clatter  of  church-bells,  she 
entered  the  middle  room,  and  sat  to  the  south  of  the 
door  opening  into  the  west  room.  I  then  hung  a 
bracket  on  the  outside,  to  lay  the  slate  on,  as  I  did 
before,  and  shut  her  in. 

I  began  a  conversation  with  her  at  once,  and  in  a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  433 

few  minutes,  while  we  were  talking,  the  north  panel 
of  the  door  opened  wide,  and  a  large,  muscular,  flesh- 
and-blood-looking  arm  reached  out  of  the  middle 
room,  and  wrote  on  the  slate : 

^'Napoleon  has  had  many  existences,  extending  back  for 
thousands  of  years.  He  was  a  Roman  Emperor  during  the  time 
Jesus  lived  on  the  earth  ;  and  Jesus  liimself  was  the  reincar- 
nated Moses,  These  facts  have  only  been  communicated  to 
Josephine  and  myself,  within  the  last  two  months,  by  Richelieu. 
Napoleon  was  born  the  last  time,  to  flash  like  a  meteor  across 
the  path  of  the  French  people,  and  mark  it  with  blood.  It  is 
this  bloody  path  that  forms  the  magnetic  chain  that  binds  him 
to  France,  and  which  will  cause  him  to  reappear,  as  its  savior, 
in  the  beginning  of  the  next  century.  I  have  mucli  (o  say  to 
you  on  this  subject,  at  some  future  time.  Let  the  medium  rest 
to-day.  Ney. 

I  thought  this  rather  a  singular  communication  to 
write  to  me.  The  reincarnation  of  Napoleon  did  not 
concern  me  much,  or,  as  Toots  would  say,  ''it  is  of  no 
consequence"  to  me  whether  Napoleon  reincarnates  or 
not.  It  is  exclusively  his  own  business.  If  he  has 
a  predilection  for  reincarnating,  I  shall  not  mar  his 
pleasure,  unless  he  crosses  my  path.  Napoleon  is  wel- 
come to  all  the  enjoyment  reincarnations  bring  him. 
But  why  inform  me  about  it  1  If  the  object  was  to  put 
the  prediction  on  record,  that  had  already  been  done. 
Josephine  did  that,  in  French,  some  time  ago;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  the  French  people  will  be  looking  for  the 
advent  of  the  new  century  and  the  reincarnated  'Mittle 
corporal"  with  a  great  deal  of  pious  impatience.  The 
intimation  is,  that  Napoleon  had  previously  existed  as 
Julius  Csesar.  I  'm  sorry  for  that  !  Caesarism  is  at  a 
discount  in  this  country.  My  prophetic  soul  I  I  now 
understand  why   Louis   Napoleon  wrote  the  Life  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


434  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Julius  Caesar.  Admitting  Ney's  account  of  his  geni- 
ture,  it  was  the  instincts  of  the  son  tracing  his  lineage 
along  the  genealogical  tree.  But  Josephine  says  that 
Louis  was  not  a  success!  That's  a  little  rough  on 
her  grandson.  Did  she  mean  as  an  historian  }  I  wot 
not  ! 

On  the  17th  of  March,  being  St.  Patrick's  day  in 
the  evening,  my  family  and  Mr.  Plimpton  waited  upon 
the  spirits  in  a  dark  circle.  As  soon  as  the  light  was 
extinguished,  Mr.  Plimpton's  mother  requested  him  to 
sing  an  old  favorite  hymn  ;  in  doing  which,  she  accom- 
panied him.  He  had  forgotten  some  of  the  words, 
which  she  readily  supplied.  After  the  singing,  the 
spirit-mother  and  the  living  son  held  quite  a  long 
conversation  about  the  different  members  of  their  fam- 
ily, and  the  affairs  thereof;  and  then  his  sister  Mary 
conversed  with  him  about  ten  minutes. 

Jim  Nolan  now  obtained  the  control,  and  saluted 
all  present  in  his  usual  manner  ;  after  which,  he  spoke 
of  the  progress  spiritualism  was  making  among  the 
thinkers  of  the  world,  and  of  the  improved  conditions 
which  enabled  them  to  manifest.  He  said  :  '*  There 
are  those  now  living  who  will  see  spirits  fully  material- 
ized in  the  light,  standing  on  the  platform,  addressing 
thousands  of  people  in  audible  tones.  Spirits  are  mak- 
ing proselytes,  through  their  mediums,  every-where 
among  the  leading  intellectualists  of  the  world."  He 
then  described  the  relation  he  sustained  to  the  medium, 
and  the  existence  of  an  electro-sympathetic  chord, 
through  which  he  was  made  concious  of  her  every  wish, 
no  matter  where  she  might  be.  He  next  spoke  of  the 
book  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Watson,  "The  Clock  Strikes 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  435 

One,"  and  said  :  ''  Watson  is  in  a  transition  condition  ; 
he  can  only  utter  such  truths  as  harmonize  with  his 
theological  education.  Gradually  he  will  take  in  new 
ideas,  and  then  he  will  be  brave  enough  to  give  them 

utterance." 

After  Nolan  concluded,  ^' Old  Ski"  announced 
himself,  and  had  a  talk  with  Mr.  Plimpton. 

It  seems  he  had  been  visiting  Mr.  Plimpton's 
house,  and  making  notes  of  every  thing  he  saw,  which 
he  described  with  entire  accuracy,  not  forgetting  his 
^'  squaw,"  who,  he  said,  was  in  need  of  some  medicine, 
which  he  prescribed. 

Ski  had  barely  retired,  when  I  was  addressed  by 
Lizzie  Daly,  who  had  lived  in  Baily's  Court,  near  my 
residence,      Lizzie  was  an  L'ish  Catholic  girl,  and  an 
object  of  sincere  pity  to  all  who  knew  of  her  bodily 
affliction.       She  came  to  thank  me  for  assisting  her 
brother  Pat  to  get  back  to  L-eland,  and  for  some  trifling 
favors  she  had  received  from  my  household.       After 
her,  David  Wolfe  and  Sarah  Powders  addressed  rela- 
tives in  the  circle,  when  Jim  Nolan  bid  us  good-night. 
On  the  i8th  of  March,  Mrs.  HoUis  received  a  note 
from  Mrs.  G.  W.  Cofiftn,  living  on  Broadway,  saying 
she  was  confined  to  her  bed  from  the  effects  of  a  pain- 
ful accident,  and  requesting  a  visit.    Mrs.  Hollis  de- 
cided to   call   upon   her  friend  in  the  evening  of  the 
same  day,  and  invited  me  along.       She  now  met,  for 
the  first  time,  the  venerable  mother  of  Mrs.  Cofhn, 
Mrs.  Nancy  Martin,  widow  of  Mr.  Jonas  Martin, 
who  had  been  a  public  man  in  Cincinnati  for  many  years. 
This  venerable  lady,  in  the  eighty-first  year  of  her  age, 
was  deeply  interested  in  spiritual  phenomena,  and  had 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


43^  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

read  most  of  the  standard  works  on  its  philosophy. 
For  the  first  time,  she  now  had  the  opportunity  of 
meeting  a  medium,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  have  a 
dark  circle.  I  had  never,  until  now,  met  either  Mrs. 
Martin  or  her  invalid  daughter  ;  so  Mrs.  Hollis  and 
myself  were  strangers  alike  to  Mrs.  Martin,  and  to 
Mrs.  Coffin  I  was  personally  unknown. 

The  windows  were  closed,  and  the  room  made  dark. 
Almost  as  soon  as  the  liglit  was  extinguished,  a  child, 
giving  her  name  as  ''Olive,"  spoke,  saying  she  was 
''Mussy's"  great-grandchild,  that  *'  Harriet"  was  here, 
**and  my  two  grandpas  —  Grandpa  Misener  and 
Grandpa  Martin."  She  also  said,  '*  My  two  uncles, 
both  named  Charles  Coffin,  are  here ;"  supplementing 
that  one  of  them  had  changed  his  name  to  Martin 
Coffin  since  he  came  to  the  spirit-world.  This 
was  all  the  child  could  say  ;  after  which,  Jim  Nolan 
began  : 

''  Mrs.  Martin,  there  is  a  spirit  here  who  says  he 
was  an  officer  in  the  Prussian  arm)^— a  nephew  of  the 
Duchess  Amelia — and  says  he  was  your  husband." 

''  What  is  his  name  T' 

''  He  gives  the  name  as  Colonel  Misener.  There 
is  also  present  a  woman  who  gives  her  name  as 
Francis  Wright  D'Arusmont,  author  of  '  Altore'  and 
'  A  Few  Days  in  Athens,'  who  sends  her  love  to  you, 
and  her  compliments  to  Mrs.  Judge  Gholson.  She 
will  speak  to  you  this  evening.  There  is  a  spirit  who 
gives  his  name  as  George  Neff.  He  says  his  daughter 
lives  near  you,  and  has  no  communication  to  send. 
There  is  another  lady  near  you,  who  gives  the  name 
of  Febbiger,  and  wishes  it  announced  without  com- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  43/ 

ment.      Another  great-grandchild  gives  the  name  of 
Jennie.     Says  she  is  Olive's  sister." 

AH  these  names  were  recognized  by  Mrs.  Martin, 
who  expressed  her  great  gratification  for  the  privilege 
of  living  to  see  the  auspicious  dawning  of  spirit- 
commumication  with  the  people  of  earth. 

Jim  Nolan  then  said,  "  Mrs.  Martin,  spirits  will 
soon  be  able  to  materialize  in  the  light,  and  address 
audiences  in  public  halls  and  churches,  just  as  lec- 
turers and  preachers  now  do."  He  then  said,  "  Good- 
night," and  retired.  . 

It  was  only  a  few  seconds  after  he  did  so,  when  a 
strangely  earnest  voice  said  : 

''  My  dear  friend,  this  moment  is  the  happiest  of  my 
life,  and  is  a  compensation  for  all  the  misery  and  suffer- 
ing I  endured  while  in  the  flesh.  It  was  you,  my 
steadfast  friend,  who  remained  by  me  after  my  own 
flesh  and  blood  deserted,  and  closed  my  eyes  after  I 
had  left  the  form.  O,  how  my  soul  goes  out  in  grati- 
tude to  thank  you  for  your  steadfast  love! 

'*You  told  me  truly  there  was  individual  life  be- 
yond the  grave  ;  but  I  could  not  comprehend  it.  It 
was  my  thought,  and  I  so  expressed  it  many  times  to 
you,  that  all  there  was  of  life  was  in  works  ;  that  the 
reward  of  human  improvement  was  here— not  here- 
after— for  death  meant  annihilation  by  absorption,  or 
oblivion,  in  the  great  center  of  life.  But,  my  dear 
friend,  to-night  I  redeem  the  promise  of  my  covenant 
with  you,  made  twenty  years  ago,  and  return  to  tell  you 
that  I,  Frances  Wright  Phiquepal  D'Arusmont, 
still  live,  as  much  an  individual  as  when  you  knew 
me  as  your  friend  on  earth.     I  came  to  tell  you  that 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


438  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  spirit-world  is  as  much  an  actuality  as  the  one 
on  which  you  live,  and  to  say  I  am  ever  near  you, 
and  will  be  so  to  the  end  of  your  earthly  existence. 
When  you  come  to  our  bright  abodes,  I  will  be  among 
the  first  to  meet  you  and  give  you  welcome,  my  stead- 
fast friend !" 

These  remarks  were  delivered  with  a  calm,  de- 
liberate emphasis  that  I  had  never  heard  before  but 
once.  I  remember  to  have  heard  this  remarkable 
woman  speak,  while  in  the  form,  in  1835,  ^^  Chiquis, 
near  Columbia,  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania  ;  and 
this  delivery  was  in  that  same  emphatic  style.  I  then 
heard  her  advocate  '*  the  universal  education  of  youth, 
on  the  basis  that  human-kind  belonged  to  one  com- 
mon family." 

Mrs.  Martin  subsequently  informed  me  that  her- 
self and  Mrs.  Judge  Gholson  were  the  only  persons 
present  when  this  historical  woman  closed  her  earthly 
career.  She  said  the  covenant  to  which  she  alluded 
had  actually  been  made  between  them,  and  that  she 
had  closed  her  eyes  after  death.  She  narrated  the 
following  anecdote  of  the  illustrious  woman:  A  few 
minutes  before  she  died,  she  requested  Mrs.  Martin 
to  pass  her  a  hand-mirror  from  the  mantle.  After 
surveying  her  features  for  a  few  minutes,  she  fixed 
her  hair  back  of  her  ears,  and  returned  the  glass  to 
Mrs.  Martin,  saying  as  she  did  so,  *' Thank  you,  my 
dear  friend!"  In  a  few  minutes  her  spirit  left  the 
body,  and  the  ear  of  Fanny  Wright  could  no  longer 
be  pained  by  the  harsh  criticisms  of  an  un-Christ- 
like  pulpit,  or  the  calumny  of  a  venal  press. 

Shortly  after    the   spirit    of    Fanny  Wright    had 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  439 

spoken,  another  voice  was  heard,  in  an  audible  whis- 
per, to  say :  ''  My  dear  wife,  I  am  here,  and  am  so 
happy  to  meet  you!  My  children  are  all  here,  and 
we  come  to  see  you  often.  You  were  a  good  wife  to 
me,  and  will  soon  be  with  me.  I  have  a  beautiful 
home  prepared  for  you.  It  is  very  difficult  to  speak. 
Good-bye!     Bless  you,  my  dear  wife  1" 

This  closed  the  seance. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  a  dark  circle  was  formed 
by  Mr.  William  Ringgold,  Mr.  Perry  O.  Ringgold, 
Miss  Emma  Ringgold,  Mrs.  Edward  Webster,  and 
Mr.  Geo.  M.  Finch.  Jim  Nolan  complained  of  the 
gentlemen  in  this  circle  being  saturated  with  the  un- 
pleasant odor  of  tobacco,  and  refused  to  talk.  Several 
spirits  addressed  their  friends  in  the  circle,  giving 
a  number  of  names,  which  were  recognized.  A  long 
silence  followed,  and  the  circle  was  permitted  to 
adjourn  without  the  usual  ''  Good-night"  being  given. 
Mrs.  HoUis  complained  of  the  turn  things  had  taken 
in  this  circle,  when  Jim  promptly  came  to  the  front, 
and  wrote : 

"Have  faith  in  us!  We  know  what  is  best.  These  people 
came  for  fun;  and  our  silence  will  be  a  rebuke  to  them.  Good 
manifestations  would  have  been  wasted  to-night.  They  got 
enough— and  just  what  was  needed,  though  not  what  they 
wanted.     They  will  get  better  manifestations  next  time." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


440  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

WONDERFUL  PHENOMENA  — MATERIALIZING  IN  THE 
LIGHT— A  SINGULAR  VISION— CO  WEN,  THE  MUR- 
DERER, RELEASED— HUGHES'S  MURDERERS  IN  BAD 
COMPANY— BABIES. 

A  DARK  circle  was  formed,  on  the  22d  of  March, 
by  Mrs.  Clark  Williams,  of  Mount  Auburn  ;  Mrs. 
W.  P.  Neff,  of  Clifton  ;  and  Mrs.  Rufus  Slocomb,  of 
this  city. 

Jim  Nolan  opened  the  seance,  and  spoke  for  twenty 
minutes,  announcing  the  names  of  a  large  number  of 
spirits  present,  who  dictated  messages  of  love  to 
friends  in  the  circle  ;  after  which,  he  retired.  Celia 
Slocomb  then  conversed  with  her  mother,  for  twenty 
minutes,  on  family  matters  ;  after  which, ''  Eliza,"  Mrs. 
Williams's  daughter,  spoke  to  her,  in  the  most  filial 
manner,  for  fifteen  minutes.  She  said  she  kneeled  by 
the  side  of  her  darling  mother,  in  prayer,  morning  and 
evening,  and  tried  to  make  her  feel  her  presence  ; 
that  she  placed  flowers,  every  day,  in  the  little  room 
which  had  been  set  apart,  in  the  house,  for  spirit- 
communion,  when  her  mother  retired  to  it.  She 
then  spoke  intelligently  of  family  affairs,  and  ex- 
pressed her  satisfaction  with  what  her  mother  did  in 
reference  to  certain  business  transactions.     Throu<:*-h- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  44I 

out,  the  spirit  evinced  unusual  elegance  of  language 
and  purity  of  style.     She  spoke  very  distinctly. 

Mrs.  Neff's  son  Frank  then  talked  to  his  mother 
about  some  articles  he  prized,  giving  instructions  how 
they  should  be  taken  care  of,  or  distributed  among  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  to  whom,  also,  he  sent  messages 
of  love.  Clark  Williams  then  conversed  with  his 
wife,  in  most  affectionate  terms;  after  which,  the 
circle  ended. 

On  the  evening  of  the  22d  of  March,  Mr.  Plimpton 
and  my  family  assembled  in  the  west  room,  and  Mrs. 
Hollis  entered  the  center  one.  It  was  twelve  min- 
utes after,  when  a  white  lily  was  exhibited  at  the 
north  panel  aperture.  It  was  six  inches  in  diameter. 
I  approached  to  within  five  feet  of  it,  and,  in  the 
strong  light,  could  distinguish  the  most  delicate 
fibers  of  the  plant.  A  few  minutes  later,  a  pink  rose 
was  shown  several  times ;  after  which,  tzvo  flowers 
were  exhibited,  in  good  light,  for  a  minute,— all  of 
which  I  inspected  closely. 

These  were  soon  followed  by  a  naked  arm,  seen  to 
the  elbow,  being  projected  into  the  room.  In  a  few 
minutes  it  retired,  and  reappeared  covered  with  a  del- 
icate fabric,  something  like  illusion.  In  another  few 
minutes,  the  arm  was  clad  in  a  rose-pink  satin  sleeve, 
fashioned  after  the  bishop  pattern.  The  sheen  of  the 
satin  was  brilliant.  The  edge  of  this  sleeve  was 
trimmed  with  white  narrow  lace,  fastened  in  pleats. 
Mr.  Plimpton  played  the  melodeon  while  this  arm 
was  exhibited,  and,  to  our  surprise,  it  beat  exact  time 
to  the  music. 

Anna   Hancock  then   presented  her   spirit  doll- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


442  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

baby,  which  she  called  '' Neppy/'  and  tliis  was  Imme- 
diately followed  by  a  fine  materialization  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  Powers,  who  nodded  to  her  daughter  in  the 
room.  Scarcely  had  she  retired,  when  a  familiar,  but 
unrecognized,  form  and  face  of  a  beautiful  young  wo- 
man almost  filled  the  aperture  of  the  north  panel. 
She  stood  about  two  feet  away  from  the  opening,  but 
in  a  direct  line  with  it.  The  light  was  good,  so  that 
the  spirit  could  be  distinctly  seen.  Her  hair  was 
tastefully  arranged,  and  banded  with  what  seemed  to 
be  white  and  red  chenille.  This  spirit  remained  per- 
fectly materialized  four  minutes,  during  which  time  I 
scrutinized  it  closely.  It  did  not  retire,  but  began  to 
fade,  gradually  growing  indistinct,  until  it  was  lost  in 
the  faintest  outline  of  its  original  form.  At  this  junc- 
ture, a  faint  gleam  of  light  began  to  be  reflected  over 
it,  which  grew  lighter  and  lighter,  uqtil  it  seemed  to  be 
a  shower  of  sih^er  spray.  The  spirit  began  to  take  on 
its  form  and  shape  again,  when  suddenly  a  band  of 
spirits,  all  invisible  but  their  hands  and  arms,  sur- 
rounded the  central  figure,  and  began  to  fan  it  rapidly 
with  a  flaming  light,  under  which  operation  it  soon 
regained  its  lost  brilliancy  and  life-like  appearance. 
These  streams  of  light  seemed  to  emanate  from  their 
finger-points,  and  were  not  unlike  the  lurid  rays  seen 
in  the  arctic  sky.  I  now  observed  the  spirit-face  was 
invested  with  a  white  gauzy  veil.  This  was  put  aside 
by  a  spirit-hand,  when  the  whole  aspect  of  the  face 
and  head  became  so  life-like  that  I  could  scarcely 
realize  the  presence  not  to  be  human.  This  material- 
izing process  was  repeated  six  times  in  the  space  of 
twenty  minutes.     It  was  a  startling  manifestation,  and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  443 

one  which,  perhaps,  was  never  before  witnessed  by 
either  man  or  woman,  while  in  the  form.  It  was  an 
interesting  occasion. 

Subsequently,  it  was  stated  by  the  spirits  that  this 
was  the  most' successful  eifort  they  had  ever  made  to 
materialize  in  the  light.  They  were  well  pleased,  and 
expressed  the  hope  to  be  able  to  give  a  materialization 
with  the  entire  door  wide  open,  or,  at  least,  with  ''the 
gates  ajar."  The  spirit  thus  brought  so  prominently 
to  notice  was  a  matured  and  beautiful  female,  seem- 
ingly about  twenty  years  old.  It  was  said  I  had  seen 
her  before,  in  a  vision,  at  which  time  she  promised  to 
meet  me  again.  As  already  stated,  her  face  looked 
familiar;  but  I  was  so  dazed  with  the  novelty  of  the 
operation  that  I  failed  entirely  to  recognize  her.  No 
sooner,  however,  had  she  finally  disappeared,  than  I 
recalled  her  image  as  connected  with  a  strange  ex- 
perience in  my  life  ;  and,  as  it  is  somewhat  of  a  spirit- 
ual character,  I  will  relate  it  to  the  reader,  hoping  the 
lesson  it  taught  will  be  as  profitable  to  others  as  it 
has  been  to  myself. 

Many  years  ago,  in  sleep,  I  had  a  vision  of  a  se- 
cluded valley,  which  was  filled  with  flowers  of  the 
most  bewildering  beauty  and  ricliest  perfume.  The 
slopes  of  the  surrounding  hills  were  covered  with 
blooming  trees  and  trailing  vines.  Here,  in  a  deep 
shade,  I  sat,  listening  to  the  hum  of  bees  and  the 
silvery  clink  of  dripping  waters.  The  air  was  ladeti 
with  delicious  odors,  which  fed  the  senses  with  a 
thousand  delights.  Gorgeously  plumed  birds  sported 
among  the  trees,  chasing  each  other  with  gladness, 
and   singing   sweetly  their  songs  of  love.      It  was  a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


444  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

retreat  of  sylvan  beauty,  and  all  that  marred  my 
enjoyment  was  my  companionless  condition. 

A  sense  of  isolation  swept  over  my  being,  until  I 
became  indifferent  to  the  charms  about  me,  and  la- 
mented my  unhappy  lot.  As  I  did  this,  suddenly 
there  stood  before  me  a  beautiful  woman,  with  a 
most  queenly  form.  As  I  gazed  in  her  eyes,  I  felt 
a  thrill  of  joy  pervade  my  entire  being.  She  spoke 
no  word,  but,  with  downcast  look,  contemplated 
the  untidy  dress  she  wore.  This  now  attracted 
my  attention,  and  I  began  to  realize  that  my 
sister-visitor  was  clad  in  rags,  soiled,  and  repulsive 
to  my  feelings,  and  disfiguring  to  her  faultless  per- 
son. Her  hair  was  beautiful,  but  tangled  and  un- 
cared  for.  She  wore  an  expression  of  sadness  on  her 
face,  which  awaked  my  deepest  sympathies.  I  thought 
she  looked  appealingly  to  me  for  pity,  and  as  I  was 
going  to  express  my  sorrow  for  her  condition,  she 
faded  from  my  sight. 

My  situation  now  became  more  unendurable  than 
ever.  Solitude  was  doubly  irksome  since  I  had  looked 
into  the  eyes  of  my  unknown  friend.  My  spirit  was 
seized  with  a  feeling  of  unrest,  and  that  which  seemed 
to  give  most  occupation  to  my  mind  was  the  thought 
of  the  repulsive  and  untidy  dress  of  my  strangely 
beautiful  companion.  While  engaged  in  the  contem- 
plation of  this  subject,  unconscious  of  the  presence 
of  any  one,  a  graceful  shadow  fell  upon  the  lawn 
beside  me,  and,  turning,  I  saw  approaching  my 
charming  visitor  again.  But  what  a  transformation  ! 
She  was  completely  changed  ;  her  tattered  and  soiled 
garments  were  gone,  and  in  their  stead,  she  was  clad 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  445 

with  graceful  and  well-fitting  habits  about  her  peer- 
less form, 

*'  Grace  was  in  her  step,  heaven  in  her  eye, 
In  all  her  actions  dignity  and  love," 

I  could  Utter  no  word  in  her  charming  presence  ; 
seeing  which,  she  spoke,  ''In  which  attire  do  you  love 
me  most.?"  Her  words  thrilled  me  with  a  strange 
happiness;  and  I  said,  ''As  you  are  now!"  She 
made  reply:  "Then  purify  your  thoughts,  elevate 
your  tastes,  chasten  your  desires,  and  make  me  beau- 
tiful forever,  I  am  now  clad  as  you  would  have  me  ; 
but  as  you  saw  me  first,  so  have  you  made  me.  My 
soiled  rags  are  but  the  reflection  of  your  impure 
desires,  your  ungoverned  passions,  and  your  un- 
refined spiritual  nature.  Watch  yourself,  my  dear 
companion,  and  think  of  what  I  tell  you.  Yo2i  will 
see  me  again  T     Whereupon  I  awoke, 

<'  When  like  a  passing  thought  she  fled, 
In  light,  away !" 

I  need  not  be  told  that  this  was  a  sentimental 
dream.  I  know  all  about  that  It  was  a  pleasant 
dream;  and  I  think  it  has  been  a  profitable  one  to 
me.  I  only  introduce  it  now  to  say,  that  the  spirit, 
so  singularly  materialized  in  the  cabinet,  bore  a  strik- 
ing resemblance  to  the  one  I  saw  in  the  vision. 
She  gave  no  name;  but  simply  announced  that  I 
had  seen  her  before,  in  a  vision.  Whether  there  is 
any  thing  in  it  or  not,  it  is  a  pleasant  little  episode 
in  a  man's  life  ;  and  as  we  do  not  understand  every 
thing  connected  with  our  "sleeping  and  waking," 
there   may   be  something  more  than  wayward  fancy 

in  it.     Who  knows  ? 

40 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


446-^  STARTLIiYG  FACTS  IN 

Soon  after  the  spirit  we  saw  materialized  had 
retired,  a  very  singularly  dressed  head  appeared.  The 
forehead  was  very  low,  and  receding  from  a  point 
scarcely  an  inch  above  the  eyebrows.  There  was 
intelligence  in  the  eyes  ;  and,  from  the  rich  ornaments 
worn  in  the  ears  and  upon  the  neck,  and  also  the 
peculiar  head-dress,  I  should  judge  a  person  of  rank 
had  come  to  the  aperture. 

The  manifestations  were  very  good  in  this  seance ; 
but  the  materialization  of  the  spirit  I  had  seen  in  the 
vision  was  the  finest  witnessed  by  me  in  the  presence 
of  Mrs.  Hollis. 

On  the  morning  of  the  23d,  Marshal  Ney  wrote  : 

"The  room  is  charming!  We  are  preparing  batteries,  and 
do  not  wish  the  pubhc  admitted  until  all  things  are  in  readiness. 
We  will  advise  you  at  the  proper  time." 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d  of  March,  a  dark  seance 
was  given  to  W.  H.  Lindsey  and  George  Jopinson, 
of  Louisville,  Ky.;  William  Ringgold,  William 
De  Ford,  F.  B.  Plimpton,  Miss  Lizzie  Couden, 
and  four  members  of  my  family. 

A  large  number  of  spirits  attended  this  circle, 
among  whom  '''Nelly  Butler"  and  a  black  man,  a 
former     slave    to    Mr.    Lindsey's    mother,    spoke     to 

him.     John    Lindse}^    Mary  Graham,  Alice    , 

John  W.  M'Allister,  Thomas  Carse,  and  John  W. 
Keats  were  announced,  and  recognized  by  him. 

The  spirits  of  A.  B.  Whiting,  George  Johnson, 
and  an  Indian  chief  by  the  name  of  "War  Eagle," 
announced  themselves  to  Mr.  Johnson,  the  last  mak- 
ing quite  a  display  of  his  power,  claiming  Mr.  Johnson 
as  his  medium. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  AM 

Mr.  Plimpton  was  addressed  by  his  sister  Mary, 
his  mother,  and  M.  D.  Potter. 

Miss  Coudeii  was  spoken  to  by  the  spirits  of 
Edith  CoLiden  and  Alice  Clymer ;  after  which,  the 
presence  of  Eliza  A.  Couden,  Henry  Chace  Couden, 
George  V.  Couden,  Emma  Couden,  and  Thomas 
Craig  was  announced,  and  recognized. 

The  spirit  of  John  Ringgold  then  carried  on  a 
confidential  conversation  with  his  brother,  when  Mrs. 
Flollis  startled  the  circle  by  the  announcement  of  the 
presence  of  a  dark  and  undeveloped  spirit,  from  whom 
she  apprehended  mischief  So  excited  and  fearful 
did  she  become,  that  she  demanded  the  light  to  be 
struck. and  the  circle  broken  up.  There  was  a  feel- 
ing of  terror  pervading  the  minds  of  all  present,  and 
a  panicky  stampede  became  imminent.  By  assurances 
that  no  injury  could  come  to  any  of  us,  quiet  became 
restored,  when  was  heard  an  abject  voice  pleading 
piteously  for  permission  to  speak  to  Mr.  Ringgold. 
Mr.  Ringgold  said,  '^Certainly,  speak  out  1"  Still 
again  and  again,  however,  the  voice  pleaded,  and 
begged  him  not  to  be  offended  for  speaking  to  him. 
Mr,  Ringgold  assured  the  spirit  that  where  no  offense 
was  intended,  none  would  be  received,  and  that  he 
should  speak  freely  what  he  had  to  say.  The.  voice 
then  tremblingly  began  by  saying: 

*'  I  am  John  W.  Cowen,  who,  many  years  ago,  was 
hung  in  this  city  for  murdering  my  wife  and  children. 
You  are  the  only  one  in  the  room  who  saw  the  victims 
of  my  jealous  rage  and  cruelty,  though  perhaps  all 
have  heard  of  the  circumstance.  You  remember  the 
ghastly    gash    made    by    the    hatchet,    which    I   had 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


44S  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

previously  sharpened  for  the  dreadful  work.  I  was  in- 
sane with  jealousy  when  I  committed  the  unnatural 
deed,  and  took  two  drams  of  whisky  to  nerve  me  for 
the  occasion.  My  wife  was  peeling  an  apple  when  I 
struck  her.  O,  she  was  innocent,  and  I  killed  her 
without  cause !" 

This  confession,  delivered  loud  enough  to  be  dis- 
tinctly heard  by  all  present,  in  that  dark  room,  had 
a  startling  effect.  The  spirit  was  asked  if  his  wife 
and  children  were  with  him. 

He  replied  :  '*  No :  they  are  in  a  different  sphere, 
higher !  I  have  never  left  the  earth,  and  could  not, 
until  I  had  proclaimed  my  wife's  innocence." 

"  This  confession  has  been  of  some  service  to  you, 
I  suppose.^'*  said  Mr.  Ringgold. 

**  O  yes !  I  can  now  rise  to  higher  conditions. 
To-night  I  will  leave  the  earth,  and  pass  to  the 
second  sphere  !'' 

After  saying  how  grateful  he  was  for  the  permis- 
sion to  confess  his  guilt,  and  proclaiming  the  inno- 
cence of  his  wife  to  one  who  had  seen  his  victims, 
he  bade  us  farewell. 

Mr.  Ringgold  confirmed  what  the  spirit  said  as  to 
his  seeing  the  wife  and  children  of  Cowen  after  they 
had  been  murdered.  He  was  at  the  time  but  a  lad, 
and,  like  hundreds  of  others,  visited  the  scene  of 
the  tragedy. 

After  Cowen  had  gone,  Annie  Hancock  sung  one 
of  her  little  songs  alone  ;  and  then  my  friend  Lizzie 
Daly  again  addressed  me.  Jim  Nolan  then  an- 
nounced, by  name,  the  presence  of  my  mother  and 
father.      John  Jordan,  Charles  Odell,  Hannah  Odell, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  449 

Nathaniel  Ociell,  Lizzie  Oclell,  Betsy  Lockard,  Peggy 
Lockard  {''who  lived  over  the  hill"),  John  Lockard, 
"  Grace,"  Isabella  Jordan,  Emma  Frances  Jordan,  and 
Tkoinas  Ewing  (I  think  Thomas  Eller  was  meant) : 
all  of  whom,  excepting  the  last  named,  I  recognized  as 
kinspeople. 

After  this,  Emma  De  Ford  spoke  to  her  brother, 
and  announced  the  presence  of  her  father,  Washing- 
ton De  Ford,  and  George  De  Ford,  Mary  Barns,  and 
Captain  Air,  the  latter  sending  a  message  to  his  son 
Edward. 

The  father,  mother,  and  grandfather  of  a  member  of 
my  family,  and  also  Nelson  Atchison,  announced  their 
presence.  A  number  of  names  were  given  to  others  of 
my  ilimily,  among  which  David  Wolfe,  Grandfather  Rei- 
gel,  Thomas  Eller,  and  Willie  De  HufT  were  recognized. 

In  all,  there  were  sixty-six  names  given  at  this 
circle;  but  the  chief  interest  centers  in  the  confession 
of  our  contrite  brother,  Cowen. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  March,  while  sit- 
ting at  the  breakfast-table,  I  asked  Mrs.  Hollis  to 
enter  the  cabinet  room.  After  she  had  done  so,  I 
was  informed,  by  a  spirit  writing,  that  an  unusual  man- 
ifestation would  be  given  at  the  aperture.  I  waited 
patiently  twenty  -minutes,  fingering  the  keys  of  the 
melodeon,  when  the  north  panel  was  thrown  open, 
and  little  Anna  Hancock  came  to  the  front,  so  as  to 
be  plainly  seen  from  her  waist  up.  She  was  beauti- 
fully dressed  in  colors.  Her  face  was  in  repose,  no 
muscle  seen  to  move.  A  few  seconds  after  her  ap- 
pearance, and  while  she  still  remained,  another  spirit 
stood    up    behind    her,  looking  over   her  head.     The 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


450  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

face  was  more  matured,  but  still  child-like — a  girl 
of  twelve  or  fourteen  years  of  age.  Her  hair  was 
blonde,  while  Anna  s  was  black  ;  both  were  wavy,  the 
blonde's  reaching  to  the  shoulders.  She  subsequently 
gave  the  name  of  *'  Grace."  While  these  two  spirits 
were  in  view,  a  third  appeared  very  distinctly,  stand- 
ing back  of  Grace,  taller  and  more  womanly.  Her 
hair  was  tidily  put  up,  and  very  dark,  displaying  a 
most  beautiful  head,  neck,  and  shoulders,  I  at  once 
recognized  ''  Nackie  Haynes,"  a  young  lady  of  great 
personal  charms,  who  was  well  known  and  beloved 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends  in  this  city  and  Mount 
Auburn.  The  three  figures  were  beautifully  material- 
ized, standing  one  back  of  the  other,  and  remained 
distinctly  in  view  for  ten  minutes.  They  then  began 
to  fade;  but  very  soon  streams  of  magnetic  light 
were  showered  upon  them,  when  they  again  revived. 
This  materializing  process  was  repeated  several  times 
before  they  finally  melted  from  view. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  my  family  were 
in  the  west  room,  and  Mrs.  HoUis  in  the  center. 
Again  the  north  panel  was  opened  wide,  and  after 
witnessing  a  display  of  electric  light,  which  seemed 
to  illuminate  the  interior  of  the  room,  three  heads 
came  to  the  aperture,  well  materialized,  almost  in 
the  position  of  those  who  had  appeared  in  the  morn- 
ing. Anna  Hancock  and  Grace  were  two  of  them, 
but  the  third  was  not  Nackie  Haynes.  It  was  a  dif- 
ferent style  of  face,  the  head  of  a  different  shape, 
and  the  dark  hair  was  kept  up  by  a  gold  band.  I 
noticed  these  spirits  seemed  to  be  closer  together 
than    before,    leaving  half  the   aperture   unoccupied; 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  4$  I 

and  while  I  was  conjecturing  the  cause  of  it,  three 
other  spirits  appeared  and  occupied  the  vacant  space. 
Here  was  a  tableau  of  six  spirits,  finely  materialized, 
all  in  view  at  the  same  instant  ;  and,  to  give  ad- 
ditional interest  to  the  occasion,  the  beautiful  child 
**  Grace''  changed  her  position,  and  turned  her  face 
from  one  side  to  the  other  several  times. 

This  group  continued  in  sight  five  minutes,  when 
one  at  a  time  retired,  until  but  one  was  left.  It  was 
she  who  wore  the  gold  band  on  her  head.  She  re- 
mained, and  talked.  It  was  Josephine  Bonaparte. 
She  said,  in  reply  to  my  remark  that  she  seemed 
different  from  the  rest,  ''Mine  is  flesh  and  blood; 
theirs,  illuminated  faces  f  She  remained  at  the  aper- 
ture alone  twelve  minutes,  extending  her  arms,  kiss- 
ing her  hand  to  those  present,  and  frequently  chang- 
ing the  position  of  her  person.  It  was  the  most 
satisfactory  materialization  I  had  witnessed. 

On  the  following  evening,  March  25th,  a  dark 
circle  was  formed  by  Adam  Fox,  Mrs.  Charlotte  F. 
Miller,  George  P.  Miller,  Belle  A.  Miller,  Mrs.  Anna 
Standish,  Emma  Smith,  and  Belle  Wilson. 

Thirty-five  spirits  were  announced  by  name,  most 
of  whom  either  spoke  or  sent  messages  to  their  friends 
in  the  circle.  The  communications  were  of  a  private 
character,  and  quite  satisfactory  to  those  to  whom 
they  were  addressed. 

The  same  parties  had  another  seance  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  to  wbich  were  added  Edward  Miller  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Jabez  Miller,  Ida,  Maud,  and  Thomas 
Miller,  and  George  Fox.  Forty-one  spirits  were 
announced,  or  spoke,  upon  the  occasion. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


452  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

On  the  27tli  of  March,  Mr.  Plimpton,  Mr.  Melville 
Bonham,  the  well-known  public  reader,  Mrs.  Char- 
lotte F.  Miller,  and  four  members  of  my  family,  had  a 
cabinet  seance.  There  were  fifteen  good  materializa- 
tions, among  whom  Letitia  E.  Landon,  the  gifted 
authoress,  appeared,  and  spoke  to  Mr.  Bonham  ;  and 
Anna  Williams,  who  was  recognized  by  Mrs.  Miller. 
Mary  Plimpton,  Lizzie  Odell,  and  Josephine  Bonaparte 
were  among  those  who  came  to  the  aperture. 

In  the  evening  of  March  27th,  a  dark  circle  was 
formed  by  J.  W.  Rylan  and  wife,  Henry  Nunos 
and  wife,  C.  L.  Dunbar  and  wife,  and  two  other 
people  unknown. 

After  the  hght  was  extinguished,  a  spirit  made 
the  request  that  all  should  leave  the  room  but  the 
medium  and  Mr.  Rylan,  as  she  had  '^private  com- 
munication to  give  him.  It  was  his  sister  **  Louisa." 
Mrs.  Hollis  requested  that  I  might  be  permitted 
to  stay ;  but  this  was  denied :  so  we  all  left.  We 
were  absent  about  half  an  hour,  when  we  were  again 
admitted;  and,  during  the  remainder  of  the  evening, 
ten  spirits  spoke,  and  gave  some  astonishing  tests. 

The  dark  circle,  on  the  30th  of  March,  was  com- 
posed of  Dr.  J.  B.  Buck  and  wife,  George  W.  Skaats 
and  wife,  W.  W.  Ward  and  wife,  W.  T.  Winchester, 
and  four  members  of  my  family. 

The  lights  had  been  put  out  but  a  short  time, 
when  Mrs.  Hollis  became  excited  by  the  presence  of 
three  "  dark  spirits,"  who  stood  at  the  door,  trying  to 
enter  the  room.  They  were  announced  as  the  three 
men  who  had  been  executed  for  murdering  Hughes  ; 
and  their  object  was  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  their 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  453 

guilt,  as  Cowen  had,  that  they  might  improve  their 
condition.  It  sounded  so  much  like  a  fair  business 
transaction,  that  I  advocated  their  cause;  but  the  me- 
dium and  Nolan  put  their  veto  on  it.  If  these  unhappy 
spirits  really  wish  to  confess  their  fault  that  they  may 
be  forgiven,  why  should  they  not  be  permitted  to  do 
so.'^     Doctors  of  moral  monsters  tell  us, 

"  While  the  lamp  holds  out  to  burn 
The  vilest  sinner  may  return." 

These  ignorant  brothers  want  to  get  out  of  the  ''bad 
place;"  and  I  think  this  wish  arises  as  much  from  an 
instinct  of  goodness  in  their  nature  as  from  a  desire 
to  escape  the  tortures  of  an  ecclesiastical  purgatory. 
But  whatever  the  motive,  let  us,  in  the  great  name 
of  humanity,  help  them. 

When  the  circle  became  composed,  some  very  fine 
singing  by  the  spirits  was  given  ;  after  which,  Nolan 
spoke  and  conversed  with  different  members  of  the 
circle,  for  half  an  hour.  He  was  followed  by  Dr.  Big- 
ler,  who  gave  a  message,  for  his  wife,  to  Dr.  Buck  ; 
and  then  Father  Baker,  Mrs.  Ward's  spirit-guardian, 
spoke  most  eloquently  of  the  grand  mission  of  Mrs. 
Hollis,  and  her  approaching  tour  in  Europe.  Several 
other  spirits  spoke,  but  were  interesting  only  to  those 
addressed. 

On  the  31st,  A.  M.,  when  before  the  cabinet,  a 
nun  wearing  a  white  bonnet,  appeared  at  the  aperture, 
and  chanted  '' Excelsis Deo,''  beautifully.  At  the  same 
place,  at  noon,  Miss  Maggie  Baker  being  present,  her 
nephew,  Harry  Willett,  appeared  ;  also  a  baby,  a  fat, 
chubby  one,  about  three  months  old,  which  had  to  be 
sustained  by  the  materializing  spray.      It  was  then 

41 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


454 


STARTLING   FACTS  IN 


wrapped  up  in  a  spirit-cloth,  which  looked  like  fine 
white  crape. 

Mr.  John  Whaley  had  a  dark  seance  on  the  31st 
of  March,  at  which  his  wife  spoke,  and  twenty-five 
other  spirits  were  announced  by  name. 

The  first  of  April  was  appointed  for  Hon.  Freder- 
ick Hassaurek,  Rev.  Henry  D.  Moore,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Martin,  and  F.  B.  Plimpton,  to  form  a  dark  circle. 
There  was  a  heavy  thunder-storm  prevailing  at  the 
time  these  parties  entered  the  room,  which  continued 
during  the  sitting.  Jim  Nolan  said  the  agitation  of 
the  elements  would  prevent  a  number  of  spirits  pres- 
ent from  speaking.  Of  these,  he  gave  seven  names 
to  Mr.  Moore,  which  he  recognized  ;  to  Mrs.  Martin 
he  gave  the  names  of  ten  spirits,  all  recognized  ;  to 
Mr.  Plimpton,  ten  names  ;  and  to  Mr.  Hassaurek,  two. 
As  none  besides  Nolan  could  speak,  the  seance  was 
soon  closed. 

After  the  storm  had  subsided,  Mr.  Plimpton,  Mrs. 
Martin,  and  my  family,  entered  the  west  room,  and 
Mrs.  Hollis  the  center.  She  had  scarcely  closed  the 
door,  when  an  arm  and  hand  were  projected  through 
the  open  panel,  holding  the  branch  of  a  bush  con- 
taining leaves  and  flowers,  as  fresh  and  natural- 
looking  as  if  just  riven  from  the  parent  stem.  After 
two  minutes,  it  was  withdrawn  a  few  seconds,  and  re- 
appeared with  the  hand  muffled  in  a  gauzy  veil.  This 
was  again  removed,  and  the  bare  hand,  holding  the 
flowers,  appeared,  with  a  handkerchief  grasped  at  the 
same  time. 

Magnetic  light  then  almost  illuminated  the  inside 
of  the  cabinet,  when  a  nude  baby  was  fully  presented 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  455 

in  the  panel-opening.  It  was  then  covered  with  a 
gauze-like  veil  ;  and  again,  nude,  lying  on  a  downy  pil- 
low, within  an  arched  canopy  formed  by  the  gauze.  It 
next  appeared  at  the  aperture  on  the  shoulders  of  a 
blonde-haired  boy.  A  number  of  spirits  were  presented, 
after  this,  in  good  light,  when  Mrs.  Martin  s  beautiful 
daughter  ''  Harriet"  came  fully  in  view.  She  re- 
mained six  minutes,  fully  materialized,  and  repeated 
the  words,  ''  Mother  !  Mother  !  Mother  1"  She  wore 
a  pink  illusion  head-dress,  folded  like  a  veil,  through 
which  her  dark  hair  could  be  distinctly  discerned. 

After  several  other  spirits  had  shown  themselves, 
a  young  woman,  wearing  a  bridal  veil,  stood  at  the 
aperture  a  few  minutes,  and  then  lifted  the  veil  at 
arm's-length,  forming  a  vista  through  which  you  had  to 
peer  to  see  her  face.  She  then  turned  the  veil  aside, 
and  it  hung  down  as  far  as  could  be  seen.  Her  clear 
bright  face  was  now  perfectly  revealed,  and  she  raised 
her  hands  to  her  lips,  and  threw  kisses  to  each  member 
of  the  circle.  The  spirit  was  not  recognized.  The 
veil  again  descended  over  her  face,  and  she  retired 
from  sight.  After  several  manifestations  of  hands, 
handkerchiefs,  and  flowers  had  been  given,  the  same 
baby  was  again  brought  to  the  front,  supported  in  the 
arms  of  a  nurse.  She  seemed  to  be  very  fond  of  it, 
frequently  kissing  it,  and  toying  tenderly  with  it  by 
playing  bo-peep,  touching  its  nose,  lips,  and  cheeks,  in 
the  manner  mothers  generally  do  with  their  helpless 
darlings.  The  whole  scene  was  so  life-like  that  I 
could  hardly  think  of  it  as  a  spirit-manifestation. 

At  the  termination,  Mrs.  Hollis  came  out,  feehng 
lano-uid  and  exhausted. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


45 6  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

PRIVATE    SEANCES—MANY    WITNESSES— NOLAN— SKI- 
WAUKEE— FOUR   LETTERS    FROM   JOSEPHINE,  ETC. 

THE  2cl  of  April  was  set  apart  for  Mr.  Alfred 
Gaither,  Joseph  Rhodes,  and  L.  C.  Wier  to  in- 
terview the  spirits — first  at  the  writing-table,  in  the 
morning,  and  in  the  dark  circle  in  the  evening.  The 
writing  I  did  not  see,  but  was  present  in  the  evening 
circle. 

The  premises  were  carefully  examined,  and  found 
all  right.  Mr.  Rhodes  proposed  to  lock  the  door, 
which  proposition  I  amended  by  suggesting  that  he 
should  watch  it  on  the  outside.  The  door  was  made 
secure,  and  the  light  extinguished.  Jim  Nolan  began 
to  speak,  in  a  few  minutes,  and  very  soon  had  Mr. 
Rhodes  ''in  a  spirit"  on  masonry.  These  brothers  of 
the  ''mystic  tie"  satisfied  themselves  that  they  were 
both  "all  right  on  the  goose,"  when,  first  to  one,  and 
then  to  the  other,  Jim  addressed  Wier  and  Gaither. 

The  spirit-friends  of  these  gentlemen  now  began 
to  talk,  and  were  questioned  closely  by  them,  in  order 
to  be  certain  of  their  identity.  For  instance  :  when 
the  spirit  of  Mr.  Gaither's  uncle  announced  himself, 
Mr.  G.  requested  him  to  state,  in  exact  terms,  where 
he  was  born,  where  he  died,  and  when  ;  all  of  which 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  457 

questions  were  correctly  answered.  This  spirit  an- 
nounced the  presence  of  his  (Mr.  G.'s)  aunt  Maria, 
stating  that  she  died  of  cancer  in  the  stomach,  and 
when,  and  under  what  circumstances. 

Mr.  Rhodes  was  then  spoken  to  by  his  four-year- 
old  son,  who  inquired  about  his  hobby-horse,  and  the 
whip  his  pa  had  bought  him,  also  about  a  number  of 
his  playthings  which  his  ma  had  put  away. 

Mr.  Wier  had  with  him  a  small  telegraph  instru- 
ment, which  he  carried  in  his  pocket;  with  this  he 
made  a  peculiar  call,  it  being  personal  to  Frank  Ste- 
vens. The  spirit  thus  solicited,  responded  at  once  ; 
but  stated  that  he  was  unable  to  manipulate  the  key, 
in  his  present  condition. 

Quite  a  number  of  other  spirits  were  announced, 
and  one  spoke  to  Mr.  Gaither,  rather  in  a  menacing 
manner,  in  reference  to  the  method  of  his  sudden 
taking  off.  It  was  Sim  Reno,  the  express-robber, 
who  was  hung  in  New  Albany  Jail,  Ind.,  by  a  vigilance 
committee.  Because  Mr.  G.  was  an  official  of  one  of 
the  companies  robbed,  Reno  fancied  his  detectives 
had  a  hand  in  the  matter,  and  so  expressed  himself. 

The  same  gentlemen,  with  their  wives,  and  Miss 
Gaither,  had  another  seance  on  the  6th  of  April,  and 
received  some  very  fine  tests  of  the  presence  of  their 
friends  in  the  spirit-world.  They  were  of  a  private 
nature. 

On  the  3d  of  April,  Mr.  William  L.  Vance,  of 
Memphis,  and  Mr.  James  B.  Speed,  of  Louisville,  Ky., 
had  a  dark  sitting  with  the  spirits.  There  were  over 
forty  present,  whose  names  were  announced  to  Mr. 
Vance,  and  recognized  as  among  his  family  relations 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


4S8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

and  friends,  some  of  whom,  he  averred,  had  not  been 
spoken  of  for  thirty  years. 

Eighteen  spirits  gave  their  names  to  Mr.  Speed, 
recalling  to  mind  individuals  who  had  long  since 
passed  to  the  *Mand  of  the  leal," 

To  myself,  James  Collins,  an  old  resident  of  Co- 
lumbia, Penn.,  my  native  place,  and  Mrs.  Margaret  M. 
Scott,  of  the  same  place,  spoke.  The  latter  requested 
me  to  write  to  her  husband,  Thomas  A.  Scott,  the 
distinguished  railroad-manager,  and  inform  him  that 
she  wished  to  speak  to  him  in  the  presence  of  this 
medium.  I  wrote  to  Colonel  Scott,  stating  her  wishes, 
but  fancy  he  regards  my  service  as  one  of  questionable 
sanity. 

A  dark  circle  was  formed  on  the  6th  of  April, 
composed  of  Rees  Price,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Mrs.  Sallie 
Price,  Miss  Clara  Matson,  Mrs.  Mary  M'Duffie,  John 
Price  Rees  M'Duffie,  and  George  M'Duffie. 

By  request.  Miss  Matson  sang,  ''You'll  remember 
me,"  and  was  accompanied  by  her  spirit-mother.  Jim 
Nolan  then  spoke  for  half  an  hour,  on  the  actualities 
of  the  spirit- world,  and  man's  universal  heritage — ■ 
happiness.  He  finished  by  an  apostrophe  to  Death, 
stating  that  it  was  the  flowery  portal,  through  which 
humanity  passed  from  low  to  higher  conditions  of 
being.     He  left,  after  pronouncing  a  benediction. 

Grandma  M'Duffie  then  spoke  to  her  daughter-in- 
law.  Thomas  M'Duffie  gave  admonition  and  advice 
to  his  two  sons.  James  Price  conversed  with  his 
mother,  and  Mrs.  Matson  with  her  daughter.  Sallie 
Price  talked  to  her  brother  John  ;  and  Rees  Price  and 
wife   received  a  beautiful    communication  from  their 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  459 

spirit-claughter.      At   the    conclusion    of    the   seance, 
,  Anna  Hancock  sang  two  nursery-songs  very  sweetly. 
On  the  evening  following  this  seance,  a  dark  circle 
was  formed  by  Mr,  Plimpton,  Benjamin  E.  Hopkins, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Chandler,  Henry  Mosler   and   wife,  Mrs. 
Charlotte  Miller,  Miss  Emma  Ringgold,  and  Mr.  Will- 
iam Ringgold.     The  evening  was  very  sultry,  and  the 
manifestation  feeble  and  unsatisfactory.     It  was  made 
plain  to  me,  that  to  assist  the  spirits  to  communicate, 
circles  should  be  formed  of  families.     When  thus  con- 
stituted, a  dozen  individuals  will  each   receive  more 
satisfying   testimony  of  their   friends'   presence    than 
two  can,  who  are  utterly  strange  to  each  other.     It  is 
said  to  arise  from  the  blending  of  the  family  sphere 
into  a  homogeneous  condition,  which  the  spirits  can 
penetrate  more  easily. 

The  spirits  often  reproved  me  for  not  observing 
more  discretion  in  the  formation  of  dark  circles.  On 
one  occasion,,  they  had  so  much  difficulty  to  speak, 
that  Josephine  wrote,  the  next  morning,  the  following 
comments  on  the  seance: 

JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XIII. 

"My  Dear  Friend,— Your  circle,  last  night,  was  of  little 
value,  either  to  spirits  or  mortals.  Such  unprofitable  circles 
discourage  us,  and  jar  on  our  sensitive  natures  more  than  you 
can  understand. 

''And  yet  our  work  must  go  on,  even  among  such  undevel- 
oped people.  The  earth  is  full  of  them.  But  how  insignificant 
they  seem,  and  how  unworthy  of  the  efforts  we  make  to  elevate 
them!  Without  our  assistance,  they  come  to  the  spirit-world 
.  in  an  almost  idiotic  condition;  and  here  they  must  be  cared 
for  as  helpless  children. 

"Some  of  these  people  disgust  us,  and  we  feel  like  leavmg 
them  to  their  gross  ignorance  and  impurity.     But  this  we  can  not 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


460  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

do.     Swine  need  feeding,  even  though  we  must  work  in  the  mire 
to  do  it. 

*'  Wlien  we  look  at  our  mediums,  their  number  and  conditions, 
\ve  feel  that  the  work  of  elevating  mankind  will  require  llie 
lapse  of  ages.  Go  into  your  large  and  splendid  business  places, 
and  lislen  to  tlie  tlioughts  of  your  great  men.  They  soon 
betray  the  tinsel  material  of  their  minds  ;  tiieir  conversation  is 
puerile  and  disgusting;  not  an  idea  do  they  entertain  above 
their  sensual  wants^  or  that  which  their  brute  instincts  do  not 
originate. 

"Remember,  my  dear  friend,  that  you  are  only  reaching  a  few 
of  tliese  people,  and  perhaps  tlie  best  of  them.  But  these  will 
serve  as  propaganda  to  fire  the  remainder,  until  t])eir  trashy  in- 
stitutions shall  be  swept  from  sight;  and  the  quicker  the  better. 
The  storm  is  gathering,  and  it  must  break,  when  these  stubble 
reputations  shall  be  consumed  by  the  billowy  flame  of  a  more 
enlightened  intelligence.  Men  will  cease  to  be  bigots,  and  truth 
will  purify  the  atmosphere  that  now  hangs  loweringly  over  the 
mental  condition  of  the  world.  Where  churches  now  flourish  as 
centers  of  miasma,  poisoning  tlie  minds  of  men,  flowers  of  free 
thought  and  progress  will  spring  forth  to  grace  the  earth,  and 
make  glad  the  heart. 

''You  will  live  to  see  mud)  of  this  grand  transformation. 
The  storm  that  will  effect  this  change  is  so  near,  that  the  flash 
of  the  lightning  may  be  seen,  and  the  mutterings  of  the  thunders 
of  discontent  distinctly  heard.     .     .     . 

"Josephine  Bonaparte." 

With  all  the  care  I  could  exercise  to  select  people 
for  the  circles  in  the  dark  room,  I  did  not  entirely 
satisfy  the  demands  of  Josephine.  Many  who  con- 
sider themselves  of  much  importance  to  the  world 
would  not  feel  highly  flattered  to  learn  the  opinions 
the  spirits  entertain  of  them,  after  an  hour's  inter- 
view in  the  dark  room.  Of  a  number  of  infitiential 
representative  men,  who  constituted  a  circle  on  the 
8th  of  April,  the  following  was  written  on  the  suc- 
ceeding morning  : 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  461 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XIV.) 
''My    Dear    Friend,— Last    nioht,  as  I    listened   to    the 
silly   conversation    of    those    learned    men    and    women,    the 

X^^^^^/^^t^KKv/^:::^^  ear  was  pained,  as  the 

slave's  back  is  under  the  lacerations  of  t1ie  master's  whip;  and 
deep  in  my  soul  the  cry  went  up,  'O  Lord!  how  Ion-  must 
this  continue?'  I  felt  that  the  beautiful  messages  we  had 
brouglit,  with  so  much  painstaking,  from  the  spirit-world,  to 
improve  the  condition  of  these  people,  were  Move's  labor  lost ;' 
and  that  the  flowers  of  truth  would  wither  and  perish  in  their 
barren  souls. 

''  We  often  ask  of  each  other  :  'What  will  be  best  for  such 
people?  What  will  do  them  most  good  ?'  But  the  response  is 
always  given  in  perplexity  and  doubt.  No  matter  how  well  de- 
veloped spirits  may  be— how  far  they  have  risen  from  the  sen- 
sual plane  of  earth-life — when  they  come  to  communicate  with 
such  people,  they  must  be  confined  to  the  si)irilu;il  and  mental 
conditions  of  those  they  address;  for  powers  to  communicate 
are  limited  to  the  inspirational  capacities  of  those  with  whom 
we  are.  We  are  like  the  sensitized  plates  of  the  photographer, 
upon  whom  the  mental  condition  of  the  circle  is  reflected. 
Such  people  quarrel  like  children  with  the  pictures  taken  of 
themselves;  and,  truly,  we  esteem  this  dissatisfaction  as  the 
glimmer  of  a  merit  in  them. 

"Is  it  not  pitiable  that  spirits  of  a  high  order  of  develop- 
ment should  be  compelled,  that  they  may  do  good,  to  take  on 
the  mental  level  of  men  and  women  who  have  barely  passed 
the  condition  of  animal  existence?  This  we  must  do,  else  we 
can  not  fulfill  the  purposes  of  our  beneficent  mission,  though 
at  times  we  feel  self-degraded  and  disgusted  by  the  work  we 

essay. 

"You  have  had  some  such  feelings  yourself,  when  you  have 
attempted  to  benefit  people,  but  found  such  conditions  sur- 
rounding them  as  to  paralyze  your  best  directed  effort,  and 
thwart  the  purposes  you  have  in  view.  You  feel  that  time  has 
been  misemployed  ;  and  yet,  what  are  you  to  do  ? 

*This  word  being  entirely  new,  I  thought  it  best  to  present  the 
writing  of  it  m  facsimile.  The  word  signifies  the  spirit-organ  of  the 
tympanum  of  the  natural  ear. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


462  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

*'We  are  compelled  by  the  laws  of  progress  to  assist  the 
undeveloped  people  of  earth  to  rise  from  lower  to  higher 
conditions,  before  we  advance  to  higlier  spheres  ourselves. 
What  is  tlie  reward  for  the  sacrifices  we  make  ?  The  spirit- 
world  is  full  of  ignorant  people,  who  are  objects  of  pity,  and 
who  call  out  our  sympathies  and  aid  to  instruct  and  advance. 
O,  if  the  inhabitants  of  earth  could  only  realize  how  important 
it  is  that  they  should  make  tlie  best  use  of  their  time  in  im- 
proving their  rudimental  life,  while  they  have  the  opportunity, 
there  would  be  less  worsliip  and  more  work  among  tliem  ! 
To  promote  this  end  is  the  main  purpose  for  establishing  inter- 
course between  the  two  worlds.  When  men  know  how  to 
make  the  best  use  of  their  time,  both  for  the  present  and  future 
life,  they  will  cease  to  do  wrong,  and  learn  to  do  right. 

''My  kind  friend,  these  low  conditions  of  the  human  family 
are  much  to  be  deplored,  but  can  be  improved  only  by  making 
sacrifices,  and  engaging  actively  and  persistently  in  the  stern 
duties  of  life.  Let  us  work  together,  and  the  more  we  accom- 
plish, the  sooner  will  we  inherit  the  reward  of  peace. 

"Josephine." 

A  number  of  private  circles  were  given,  in  which 
no  matter  of  public  interest  was  evolved.  Most  peo- 
ple seek  interviews  with  the  spirit-world,  to  obtain 
information  of  the  well-being  of  their  personal  friends, 
mostly  of  their  own  family.  In  this  way,  the  more 
important  information  pertaining  to  the  real  condi- 
tions, laws,  and  usages  of  the  spirit-life  is  unsolicited 
and  withheld. 

It  is  true,  that  to  converse  with  our  friends  again, 
after  they  have  passed  the  boundary  of  human  life,  is 
a  gratification  and  privilege  that  can  not  be  too  highly 
estimated  ;  still  a  knowledge  of  the  laws  appertaining 
to  spirit-life  is  a  power  which  originates,  and  perpet- 
ually maintains,  a  pleasure  for  the  soul,  unknown  to 
those  who  prefer  to  interview  personal  friends  rather 
than  progressed  philosophers.     Indeed,  these  are  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  463 

distinctive  characteristics  of  the  investigators  of  spir- 
itualism. One  seeks  to  establish  its  truths  or  falsi- 
ties by  the  testimony  of  his  personal  friends;  another 
gathers  truth,  through  the  processes  of  reason  and 
intuition,  from  the  testimony  of  enlightened  witnesses. 
A  private  circle,  in  which  many  excellent  personal 
tests  were  given,  was  formed  by  John  G.  Brotherton, 
Mrs.  S.  Ryder,  John  French,  Mrs.  H.  French,  and 
James  T.  French,  all  of  whom  were  spoken  to  by 
their  spirit-friends. 

Another  circle  was  formed  by  Joseph  Kinsey  and 
family,  Thomas  Kinsey  and  family,  Samuel  R.  Bates 
and  wife,  and  Benjamin  E.  Hopkins  and  family,  in 
which  a  number  of  good  personal  tests  were  given. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  a  circle  was  formed  by  Dr.  J. 
B.  Buck  and  wife,  Mr.  Robertson  and  wife,  Miss  Cluff, 

Dr.  Walton,  and  Dr.  H- .     The  voices  were  quite 

low— sometimes  indistinct— in  this  circle;  and  the 
spirits  pronounced  their  names  with  difficulty.  Still 
a  number  of  good  tests  were  given;  and,  but  for  the 
strange  conduct  of  Dr.  Walton,  who  seemed  to  be 
ignorant  of  the  proprieties  of  a  spirit-circle,  the  mani- 
festations would  have  been  much  better.  The  follow- 
ing note  was  written  on  the  slate  next  morning: 

'•O,  the  dearth  of  spiritual  people!  How  much  the  great 
world  needs  this  hght!  And  yet,  when  we  meet  such  as  partly 
composed  the  circle  last  night,  we  feel  that  the  work  we  have 
undertaken  to  perform  is  almost  incomprehensibly  great.  Your 
circle  last  night  was  exceedingly  unprofitable  to  us. 

"  Josephine." 

On  the  9th  of  April,  Elias  L.  Lewis,  John  M'Kin- 
ney,   Ephraim  Holland,  and  Edward  Henderson  had 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


464  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

an  interview  with  the  spirits.  All  these  gentlemen, 
I  have  been  informed,  were  pronounced  materialists 
in  belief.  They  are  all  bankers  in  good  standing,  I 
believe,  never  having  dishonored  a  check  of  their  own 
issuance,  so  far  as  the  public  are  informed.  Mr.  Hen- 
derson is  not  a  banker,  but  a  city  editor  on  the  Com- 
merciaL  One  of  these  bankers  compromised  himself 
with  the  public,  on  one  occasion,  by  clothing  and 
feeding,  at  his  own  expense,  a  number  of  emigrants, 
who  had  reached  our  city  in  midwinter,  almost  naked 
and  hungry.  He  did  this  without  conferring  with 
the  municipal  ofBcers,  Deacon  Smith,  or  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.  On  another  occasion, 
of  his  own  free-will  and  accord,  he  remitted  more 
dollars  than  all  the  churches  in  the  city  combined  to 
the  president  of  the  ''Orphans'  Home,"  with  the  re- 
quest that  they  should  be  expended  by  him  in  making 
the  little  ones  happy  on  the  natal  day  of  Jesus  Christ. 
He  had  the  audacity  to  subscribe  the  name  of  ''Santa 
Claus"  to  his  lawless  note.  I'm  told  of  similar  tricks 
by  the  remainder  of  them. 

The  spirits  like  to  talk  to  such  men  ;  and  when 
Mr.  Lewis,  by  request,  sung  a  hymn,  a  spirit-voice 
joined  him.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  music,  Jim 
Nolan  challenged  Lewis  and  Henderson,  in  a  mys- 
terious manner,  and  found  them  to  be  "all  right" 
as  brother  Masons.  Lewis  made  several  mistakes, 
which  ''Jim"  pointed  out  at  once,  showing  himse}f 
"bright,"  and  they  quite  "rusty."  These  members 
of  the  "brotherhood"  were  a  little  confused  by  the 
examinations  Jim  gave  them,  and  said  that  no  woman 
could    talk    of    the    mysteries    of    Masonry    in    that 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  4^5 

Style.  The^e  four  men  questioned  Jim,  first  one, 
then  the  other,  in  the  most  embarrassing  manner  ; 
and  sharp  they  were  in  wit ;  but  Nolan  was  clear  to 
perceive,  and  quick  in  repartee.  It  was  a  ^^fair  fight" 
for  the  maintenance  or  surrender  of  old  opinions. 

''This  is  the  most  astonishing  event  of  my  life!" 
said  Lewis.  "  That  voice  speaks  of  my  friends,  and 
calls  them  by  name,  with  as  much  familiarity  as  I 
could  do.  It  describes,  with  entire  accuracy,  the  form 
and  presence  of  one  long  since  placed  in  the  coffin, 
and  delivers  a  characteristic  message.  What  does  all 
this  mean  t  Is  it  possible  we  live  after  death,  and 
the  way  has  been  made  clear  for  the  dead  to  return 
and  speak  to  their  friends  again  T 

Jim  Nolan  now  announced  the  given  names  of 
every  member  of  the  circle,  which  had  been  purposely 
withheld  until  thus  disclosed.  A  voice  then  said  to 
Mr.  M'Kinney:  "Brother  John,  I  am  so  happy  to  see 
you !  I  am  so  happy  1  so  happy  !  O,  I  am  so  happy 
to  see  you  !  lam  not  blind  nozvl  O,  I  am  so  happy  !" 
''Well,  why  do  you  cry  so,  if  you  are  so  happy?" 
said  the  brother,  almost  stifled  with  emotion. 

"O,  dear  brother,  we  are  all    here!     Father  and 

mother,   and  sister  ,  and    brother  ,    are    all 

here,  and  are  so  happy !     Bless  you,  dear  brother,  for 
coming  here  to-night !" 

After  the  excitement  had  subsided,  Mr.  M'Kinney 
had  a  long  conversation  with  what  purported  to  be 
the  spirit  of  a  blind  sister.  The  conversation  related 
to  difi'erent  members  of  the  family,  living  and  dead, 
and  was  of  so  private  a  character  as  to  make  its  pub- 
lication inexcusable. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


4^6  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

"Who  was  that  talking  to   you?"  I   said    to  Mr 
M'Kinney.     . 

**  It  was  my  blind  sister  !"  he  replied. 
"Then  she  is  not  dead,"  I  said,  ''but  living." 
"  It  seems  so!"  was  his  thoughtfid  reply. 
A  female  voice  now  spoke  to  Mr.  Lewis,  address- 
ing him  in  a  manner  that  was   peculiar  to  a  young 
lady  whose  memory  was  still  fondly  cherished. 

"Who  calls  my  name  i*"  said  the  interested  man. 
She  gave  the  name  of  the  young  lady  in  question, 
and  proceeded  to  identify  herself  in  the  most  un- 
mistakable manner.  A  long  undertone  conversation 
here  followed,  which  resulted  in  establishing  the  be- 
lief that  he  had  really  been  talking  to  his  "  loved  and 
lost."     I  said,  "  What  do  you  think  of  it,  sir  T 

"  I  am  dazed  !  I  do  n't  know  what  to  think  of  it  ! 
This  is  wonderful — this  is  wonderful !  That  voice  has 
been  silent  many  years,  and  I  never  expected  to  hear 
it  again !  And  yet  here  it  is,  awakening  strange 
echoes  in  my  soul,  which  I  had  thought  asleep  forever  !" 
"As  a  proficient  ventriloquist,  don't  you  think 
Mrs.  Hollis  could  have  spoken  to  you  in  the  manner 
you  have  heard  .?" 

"Ventriloquism  does  not  divulge  the  secrets  of  the 
heart.  No  mortal  could  disclose  to  me  what  my  ears 
have  just  heard." 

Another  spirit  now  spoke  in  a  peculiar  old  man's 
voice,  a  trifle  reedy.  It  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Hol- 
land, and  purported  to  be  the  ancient  head  of  the 
family  of  Hollands.  After  giving  his  name,  he  was 
recognized  by  his  son,  in  a  manner  that  placed  the 
fact  beyond  question. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  4^7 

«  He  speaks  just  as  the  old  man  used  to  speak !" 
said  Holland.  "  That 's  the  old  man,  certain !  ^  I  could 
tell  him  among  a  thousand,  and  bet  on  hmi !" 

Quite  a  lengthy  conversation  ensued,  in  which 
facts  upon  facts  were  given,  until  Holland  "threw  up 
his  hand  "  at  the  complete  identity  of  the  fater-famtlms. 
The  medium's  strength  being  exhausted,  the  spu'it- 
friends  of  Mr.  Henderson  did  not  succeed  in  givmg 
any  audible  manifestations— at  least,  what  was  said 
was  in  an  undertone. 

The  circle  was  broken  up  at  half-past  ten  P.  M., 
and  the  bankers  came  out  from  the  presence  of  then" 
spirit-friends,  wiser  than  when  they  entered. 

On  the  following  morning,  the  appended  letter  was 
written  at  the  table : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XV.) 

"MY  Dear  Friend,-!  listened  last  night  to  every  word 
that  was  uttered,  and  weighed  each  well.  There  was  niore  of 
the  true  ring  of  pure  metal  in  that  circle  than  in  any  you  have 

had  for  a  week.  .         .        ,        • 

'^Deep  down  in  the  hearts  of  these  men,  there  is  a  longmg 
for  testimony  of  the  after-life,  which  the  Church  does  not  pre- 
sent The  voice  of  a  loved  one,  speaking  from  the  borders 
of  the  Summer-land,  has  a  power  to  move  them  .n  an  mde- 
scribable  manner.  Tl>eir  whole  natures  are  permeated  w,th 
love,  as  flowers  with  fragrance.  When  the  voice  of  the  los  was 
heard  ao-aih,  the  holy  nnd  pure  feelings  of  childhood  came  back, 
and  rushed  over  tl,eir  souls,  like  a  mighty  flood  of  waters  over 
its  encumbering  banks.  ^ 

"It  is  more  pleasing  to  talk  to  tliese  men  two  minutes  than 
to  relioious  iMgots  two  hours.  Churcl>  members  may  pronounce 
a..ains"t  this  class  of  people;  but  hud  they  not  better  stnve 
to  become  as  good  as  ihey?  In  their  want,  of  chanty,  they 
blind  themselves  to  the  good  qualities  of  then-  fellow-men, 
and  set  up  arbitrary  standards  of  morality ;  but  I  tell  you, 
my  friend,  there  was  more  divine  truth   in  the  souls  of  those 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


4<^S  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

five  men  than  is  sometimes  found  in  a  whole  congregation  of 
fasliionable  worshipers.  I  felt  like  giving  them  my  liand,  to 
assist  them  to  a  higher  position  on  the  ladder  of  spiritual 
progress. 

''That  which  was  said  last  night  has  done  much  good.  It 
was  as  seed  sown  upon  rich,  well-prepared  ground.  The 
chords  of  their  souls  have  been  touched,  and  the  music  will 
thrill  tlieir  beings  for  evermore.  The  door  of  their  inner  life 
has  been  opened,  and  the  light  of  a  new  day  will  enter.  Be 
thankful  you  have  assisted  to  lead  these  men  out  of  darkness 
into  light. 

"I  am  with  you  in  all  good  work.  Josephine." 

On  the  loth  of  April,  Milton  Miller  and  wife,  Jo- 
seph  Smith  and  wife,  Mrs.  Anna  Standish,  and  Adam 
Fox  formed  a  circle,  and  interviewed  the  spirits. 

Nolan  began,  and  spoke  for  three-quarters  of  an 
horn-.  Mr.  Miller's  sister  Belle  conversed  with  him 
a  few  minutes  ;  after  which,  Mr.  Fox's  mother  and 
brother  Robert  conversed  with  him  in  reference  to 
family  matters.  Mrs.  Standish's  father  addressed  her, 
and  Mrs.  Miller's  son  George  gladdened  his  mother's 
heart  with  his  presence.  It  was  a  good  test  circle  ;  but 
no  principles  were  discussed. 

On  the  I2th  of  April,  Benjamin  Hopkins,  wife  and 
son,  John  French,  wife  and  son,  and  Miss  Mary  Sack- 
ett  had  a  dark  circle,  and  a  good  one.  Hopkins  and 
French  presented  some  fine  leading  questions  in  spir- 
itual philosophy,  which  delighted  Jim  to  answer  at 
length. 

On  the  13th  of  Api-il,  A.  J,  De  Ford  and  his 
mother,  Charles  Graham,  Mr.  Plimpton,  John  Price, 
and  the  members  of  my  family,  held  a  dark  circle. 

Mr.  Plimpton's  sister  spoke  to  him  several  minutes 
about  family  matters,  and  said  she  would  write  him  a 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  469 

letter  on  the  following  Wednesday,  which  she  did. 
He  was  then  requested  to  sing  several  favorite  hymns, 
in  which  the  spirit  mother  and  sister  joined.  Jim 
Nolan  then  spoke  for  an  hour,  first  in  reply  to  ques- 
tions put  by  the  circle,  and  then  to  announce  the 
names  of  forty  spirits  present,  all  of  which  were  recog- 
nized. The  new  name  of  Letitia  B.  Wolfe  was  given, 
as  an  inhabitant  in  the  spirit-world,  who  had  never 
been  born  into  life  in  this,  but  as  an  embryo. 

Jim  remarked  :  "  I  have  never  mentioned  this  fact 
before,  but  it  is  proper  you  should  know  it :  that  when 
persons  over  seventy  years  of  age  pass  to  the  spirit- 
world,  they  rarely  come  back  to  the  earth  ;  and  if 
they  do,  still  more  rarely  do  they  become  interested 
in  the  local  affairs  of  men.  But  when  persons  pass 
to  the  spirit-world  before  they  attain  that  mature  age, 
they  continue  to  feel  an  interest  in  human  affairs,  and 
engage  actively  in  the  enterprises  of  men.  Their 
zeal  abates  as  they  approach  the  three-score  years 
and  ten,  when  they  turn  their  faces  from  the  natural 
world,  and  begin  their  journey  along  the  stellar 
heights  of  the  spirit-land."  ■ 

The  reason  he  gave  for  this  was  that  the  magnet- 
ism of  the  spirit  became  refined  in  character,  losing 
its  earthly  grossness.  The  dreams  and  visions  of 
youth  and  age  are  accounted  for  on  a  magnetic  hy- 
pothesis. Through  magnetic  changes,  the  law  of  pro- 
gress unfolded  its  power,  and  gave  expression  to  the 
phenomena  that  had  so  mystified  the  minds  of  men. 
The  wisdom  of  age  was  but  the  simple  outgrowth  of 
the  spirit's  early  magnetic  conditions.  Physical  life 
could  only  be  maintained  while  the  magnetism  of  the 

42 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


470  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

spirit  was  gross.  As  it  became  etherealized,  the  at- 
tachments to  earth  grew  feeble — the  attractions  to 
the  higher  life  strengthened  and  intensified. 

After  Jim  had  concluded  his  rigmarole,  *' old 
Ski"  announced  himself  with  a  prolonged  halloo-oo  ! 
Being  greeted  by  all  present  with  a  hearty  welcome, 
the  old  chief  spoke  in  saddened  voice  of  the  massacre 
of  General  Can  by  b}^  the  Modoc  Indians.  He  depre- 
cated the  act  as  *'  bad,"  and  that  Jack  and  his  men 
would  be  routed  out  of  the  Lava-beds,  captured,  and 
put  to  death.  Said  the  word  Modoc  signified  ''  much 
big  injuns  ;"   that  is,  a  large  tribe, 

Nackie  Haynes  then  reminded  me  of  the  fact 
that  while  she  was  an  invalid,  she  would  not  permit 
me  to  speak  of  spiritual isili  to  her.  She  alluded  to 
the  pleasant  drives  we  made  through  Clifton,  Avon- 
dale,  and  Walnut  Hills,  and  spoke  characteristically 
quick.  Said  she  was  happy,  and  was  now  realizing 
the  truth  of  what  I  had  said  about  spirit-life. 

James  M'Cammon  spoke  to  John  Price,  and  sent 
a  message  to  his  father  and  mother,  to  whom  he  had 
both  spoken  and  written  in  the  presence  of  Mrs. 
Hollis.      Mr.  Price's  sister  also  spoke  to  him. 

A  son  spoke  to  Mr.  Graham.  Lizzie  Daly  said 
her  father  was  a  medium  for  materializing  flowers. 

Mr.  Plimpton  was  spoken  to  by  Colonel  Robert 
Lachlan,  late  of  Mount  Auburn  ;  and  my  family  were 
also  addressed. 

The  seance  closed,  and  those  composing  the 
circle  were  delighted  with  the  communications  they 
had  received.  On  the  following  evening,  Josephine 
had  something  to  say,  and  here  it  is  ; 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  47 1 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.    XVI.) 

"My  Dear  Friend,— The  seance  on  Sunday  was  good, 
and  we  were  truly  glad.  There  is  so  much  discord  through  the 
week,  that  a  little  harmony  on  Sunday  repays  us  for  our  trouble 
and  suffering.  There  is  so  much  to  antagonize  our  efforts,  that 
it  is  with  great  difficulty  we  can  deliver  our  messages  correctly. 
Our  spirit-forms  are  so  sensitive  and  film-like,  that  the  harsh 
.sound  of  a  human  voice  repels  us,  and  sometimes  renders  us 
incapable  of  giving  any  evidence  of  our  presence.  In  the  circle 
we  hear  voices  sometimes,  that  strike  the  sympamthum  of 
our  ear  as  the  jar  and  rattle  of  a  boiler-yard  assail  yours. 
We  sink  under  this  boisterous  din;  and  it  is  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  we  manifest  our  presence.     How  few  understand  this  ! 

^'  In  one  of  your  recent  circles,  a  sensitive  child  called  its 
father's  name,  who  exclaimed,  in  terrific  tones  :  '  Who  is  that  ? 
What  do  you  want  .^  If  you  have  any  thing  to  say,  proceed P 
Well,  the  child  couldn't  proceed!  It  staggered  under  those 
harsh  expressions,  as  if  it  had  been  struck  in  the  face  !  Con- 
sider, we  are  like  sensitive  plants,  and  suffer  accordingly. 

"Again  I  say,  your  circle  was  good;  for  all  was  harmonious. 
Your  hearty  welcome  sustained  us.  Mr.  Plimpton  was  in 
sympathy.  Mr.  Graham  has  a  sturdy,  honest  voice.  Madame 
DeFord  displayed  in  her  tender  tones  the  affectionate  nature 
of  her  mother  heart;  while  her  son's  manly  voice  was  its 
fitting  echo.  Josephine." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


472  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

SPIRIT-HAND  ON  TOP  OF  A  TABLE—A  CURIOUS  REVE-- 
LATION  BY  JOSEPHINE— SPIRITS  WRITING  IN  THE 
ROOM— BRUSH  MY  HAIR— PLAY  TPIE  DRUM— EAT 
AN  APPLE— MRS.  LEWIS—SPIRITS  EAT  CAKE  AND 
DRINK  WINE  — SPIRITS  PUT  THEIR  HANDS  IN 
FLOUR— THE  NEEDLE-TEST— JOSEPHINE  EXPLAINS 
PHENOMENA  — WATCH -»  TEST  — JOSEPHINE  IN  A 
DARK  CIRCLE  — NOLAN  WRITES  WHILE  I  HOLD 
THE  PAPER— BEATS  THE  REVEILLE  AND  ''THREE 
CHEERS"— DRUM-STICKS  — EXPLOITS  WITH  A  FIN- 
GER-RING—JOSEPHINE  AFTER  CHURCHMEN. 

IN  the  twilight  of  the  evening  of  the  14th  of  April, 
having  returned  from  a  drive  over  the  Chfton 
hills,  I  requested  Mrs.  Hollis  to  hold  the  slate  for 
communications.  While  waiting  for  the  writing,  I 
observed  spirit-hands  playing  with  the  fringes  of  the 
cloth  covering  the  table,  which  hung  half-way  to  the 
floor.  This  discovery  suggested  first  one  thing  and 
then  another,  until  the  phenomena  hereafter  recorded 
were  all  exhibited  in  the  manner  and  form  as  stated. 
I  held  a  new,  crisp  bank-bill  five  or  six  inches  dis- 
tant from  the  spirit-hands,  and  said,  ''Can  you  reach 
it  T  A  hand  came  out  its  full  length,  and  carried  it 
under  the  table.  My  hand  was  touched  by  the  spirit 
when  it  grasped  the  bill.  The  handling  of  the  bill 
under  the  table  could  be  distinctly  heard,  by  the  crisp 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  473 

noise  it  made.  After  a  few  minutes,  the  hand  came 
out,  and  dropped  the  bill,  neatly  folded,  on  the  floor. 
The  same  bill  was  again  taken  from  my  hand  when  I 
held  it  a  foot  from  the  table  ;  thereby  exposing  the 
spirit-hand  and  fore-arm,  very  distinctly,  to  view. 

After  that,  I  laid  my  porte-inoiinaie  on  the  table,  and 
said,  "  Can  you  reach  the  pocket-book  ?"  The  spirit- 
hand  pushed  the  cloth  out  and  up,  until  it  rested  in 
the  hollow  of  the  flexed  arm.  The  pofte-monnaie  was 
reached,  and  taken  under  the  table.  A  number  of 
other  articles,  in  like  manner,  were  taken  from  the  top 
of  the  table,  affording  me  ample  opportunity  to  exam- 
ine the  arm  and  hand,  not  more  than  ten  inches  from 
my  face.  They  seemed  semi-transparent,  as  china- 
ware  when  you  interpose  it  between  your  eyes  and 

the  light. 

The  spirits  asked,  by  writing  on  the  slate,  for  a 
handkerchief.  One  was  given,  and  rejected,  because 
it  had  been  perfumed.  Another  without  perfume  was 
substituted,  and  carried  under  the  table,  where  it  was 
tied  firmly  with  knots,  and  then  thrown  several  feet 
from  the  table,  to  the  floor. 

All  this  was  done  while  Mrs.  Hollis  sat  beside  the 
table,  with  no  part  of  her  person  under  it,  but  her 
right-hand,  in  which  she  held  the  slate.  Her  back 
was  to  me,  and  her  position  was  such  that  it  would 
be  physically  impossible  for  her  to  have  used  her  one 
hand  to  produce  the  phenomena  I  witnessed;  and  yet 
they  transpired  as  described. 

I  was  given  to  understand  that  it  was  Josephine 
Bonaparte's  hand  I  had  seen,  and  that  she  desired  to 
say  something  to  me  in  the  dark  room.     I  went  to 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


474  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  dark  room,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  voice  began  to 
sing,  with  much  pathos,  a  French  stanza.  It  was 
subsequently  said  to  be  a  favorite  song  with  Napoleon, 
and  that  the  voice  I  had  heard  had  sung  it  to  him  a 
hundred  times.  The  voice  was  more  clear  than  any  I 
ever  heard.  Its  ring  was  like  the  tintillations  of  fine 
metal,  and  could  be  heard  in  any  part  of  the  largest 
hall  in  Cincinnati.  Josephine  next  said  (for  it  was 
she  that  sang)  that  the  public  had  never  been  ap- 
prised of  the  true  relations  existing  between  herself 
and  Napoleon.  Being  a  medium,  she  had  been  guided 
by  spirits  to  Napoleon,  and  became  his  wife,  under 
their  instructions,  to  assist  him  in  carrying  out  his 
grand  mission  on  earth.  This  she  did  by  revealing  to 
him,  while  in  an  entranced  condition,  the  measures 
he  should  adopt  for  the  betterment  of  the  Human 
Race.  France  was  simply  the  battle-ground  for  the 
success  of  grand  principles  that  exerted  their  influ- 
ence on  the  destinies  of  all  nations,  and  even  the  lives 
of  all  people.  The  said  spirit-intelligences  organized 
the  emperor's  campaigns,  and  most  of  his  battles, 
through  her  mediuraship  ;  and  so  successful  were  these 
plans  that  Napoleon  thought  he  bore  a  charmed  life, 
and  called  himself  '*  The  Man  of  Destiny."  In  speak- 
ing of  her  own  life,  she  said,  before  she  left  the  islanc? 
of  Martinique,  she  foresaw  that  she  would  become  the 
Empress  of  France  ;  that  when  imprisoned  by  Robes- 
pierre, and  informed  she  must  die  the  next  day,  in 
deep  trance  she  saw  the  tyrant  overthrown,  and  her 
ultimate  release  and  triumph.  She  spoke  of  the 
change  that  came  over  the  affairs  of  Napoleon  when 
he  threw  himself  into  the  arms  of  the  Church,  and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  475 

consented  to  be  guided  by  its  counsels.  'T  was 
that  that  sealed  his  fate,  and  brought  disaster  upon 
the  cause  it  was  his  mission  to  uphold.  To  finish  the 
work  he  then  began,  she  said,  her  dear  Napoleon  must 
again  appear  in  the  flesh,  and  again  become  the  cen- 
tral figure  in  the  family  of  the  race.  She  then  de- 
clared his  reincarnation  already  begun — that  in  thirty 
years  he  would  appear  in  France  in  his  grand  media- 
torial mission,  and  that  before  the  brilliancy  of  his  new 
achievements  all  his  former  acts  would  pale  their  in- 
effectual fires.  With  a  promise  to  watch  over  my 
sleep,  she  bade  me  ''good-night." 

In  the  twilight  of  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  April, 
I  again  requested  Mrs.  Hollis  to  hold  the  slate  under 
the  table.  I  had  it  now  surrounded  with  a  valance 
of  black  calico,  reaching  to  the  floor,  as  a  substitute 
for  the  shawl.  At  the  end  of  the  table  next  to  Mrs. 
HoUis's  back,  I  made  a  flap  opening  in  the  muslin, 
about  six  inches  square,  serving  as  the  aperture  did 
in  the  cabinet.  It  was  really  a  dark  chamber,  with 
no  part  of  Mrs.  Hollis's  person  in  it  but  her  right- 
hand,  and  in  that  hand  she  held  a  slate. 

I  now  placed  a  chair  against  the  valance,  under  the 
opening,  to  serve  a  purpose  similar  to  that  of  the 
bracket.  On  this  chair  I  placed  a  slate,  and  requested 
the  spirit  to  write,  while  I  sat,  leaning  on  the  table, 
with  my  face  not  twelve  inches  distant.  In  a  few  sec- 
onds, certainly  not  more  than  a  minute,  a  man's  right- 
hand,  with  a  heavy,  plain  gold  ring  on  the  finger  next 
the  little  one,  came  out  and  wrote  : 

"  This  is  the  best  arrangement  you  have  made  ;  we  will  <^ive 
you  good  tests  at  this  tahle.  Nolan." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


476  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

While  the  writing  was  taking  place,  I  blew  my 
breath  on  the  back  of  the  spirit's  hand,  when  it  stopped, 
and  turned  up  the  palm  in  the  direction  from  which  I 
was  blowing.  I  considered  this  a  protest,  and  blew  no 
more,  when  the  hand  finished  writing  the  sentence, 
and  withdrew.  This  hand  was  not  the  same  that  had 
exhibited  such  dexterity  in  removing  articles  from  the 
top  of  the  table,  on  the  previous  evening.  This  was 
Nolan's  hand,  the  other  Josephine's. 

I  now  placed  a  large  horn-handled  hair-brush  on  the 
chair,  more  with  the  object  of  testing  their  strength  to 
lift  it  than  with  any  other  definite  purpose.  It  was 
quickly  taken  under  the  table,  and  rattled  around  for 
several  minutes.  It  was  then  projected  through  the 
aperture,  held  by  the  hand  of  Nolan,  and  a  motion  made, 
which  I  construed  into  a  desire  to  brush  my  hair.  I  re- 
moved the  chair,  and  placed  myself  in  a  favorable  po- 
sition before  the  aperture,  by  sitting  on  a  stool,  and 
leaning  my  head  forward  to  the  opening.  The  hand 
and  brush  began  to  operate  on  my  head,  first  brushing 
my  hair  to  one  side,  then  to  the  other,  and  then  back, 
until  each  particular  hair  stood  resolutely  on  end,  like 
quills  upon  the  fretful  porcupine.  The  pressure  on 
the  brush  was  unpleasantly  hard  to  the  scalp,  and  I 
made  the  remark  that,  perhaps  the  work  could  be  as 
well  done  if  the  brushing  was  performed  with  less 
emphasis.  The  observation  had  a  good  effect ;  for  the 
shampoo,  thereafter,  was  pleasant. 

While  this  operation  was  going  on,  the  arm  was 
over  my  head,  and  I  had  an  opportunity  of  looking 
into  the  dark  chamber  from  which  it  proceeded  ;  but, 
beyond  the   edge  of   the  table,  I  could  see  no  arm. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  477 

The  materialization  seemed  to  terminate  at  a  point  an 
inch  or  two  above  the  elbow.  I  could  not  see  Mrs. 
Hollis's  hand  under  the  table,  nor  the  slate,  but  her 
wrist,  fore-arm,  and  elbow  were  all  exposed  in  the  now 
gas-lighted  room. 

Jim  Nolan,  the  improvised  spirit  hair-dresser,  had 
been  a  head  drummer  in  the  regiment  in  which  he  served. 
This  fact  suggested  my  next  experiment,  which  was 
to  place  a  tin  pan  upside  down  on  the  chair  before 
the  aperture,  and  mount  it  with  a  pair  of  small  drum- 
sticks, I  had  barely  completed  the  arrangement  and 
resumed  my  seat,  when,  as  if  anticipating  my  purpose, 
two  hands  seized  the  drum-sticks,  and  began  to  roll 
and  tattoo  on  the  pan,  with  as  much  glee  as  a  four- 
year-old  displays  with  his  first  nursery  drum.  It 
was  not  real  first-rate  music,  and  I  so  informed  the 
drum-major,  who  was-  not  slow  to  reply  that  he 
''could  not  make  a  good  whistle  with  a  dog's  tail,  nor 
a  silk  purse  from  a  sow's  ear!"  It  was  the  best  he 
could  do  ;  what  more  could  I  do  .^ 

'*  That's  a  fact,  Jim,"  I  said  ;  "you  did  very  well, 
considering  all  things  ;  besides  a  great  many  disad- 
vantages you  labor  under,  which,  I  fear,  I  do  not 
consider.  How  you  can  make  your  hands  and  arms, 
and  use  them  at  all,  without  having  a  discernible  body, 
chest,  or  head,  makes  me  groan  to  think  of  it !  But 
I'm  not  so  much  interested  in  your  affairs  as  in  Mrs. 
HoUis's.  I  have  more  anxiety  to  know  how  she  could 
form  the  tzvo  hands,  and  perform  with  the  izvo  sticks, 
than  any  thing  else.  If  neither  yourself  nor  Mrs. 
HoUis  can  explain  how  the  thing  is  done,  perhaps 
somebody  else    can,   and,    of  course,    reproduce   the 

43 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


47S  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

phenomena.  I  wish  they  would  un^lertake  it  in  my 
house.  I  promise  a  good  reward  for  the  service,  if  it 
is  as  well  done  ! 

There  was  a  large  red  apple  on  the  table,  which 
I  placed  on  the  chair,  and  asked  Jim  if  he  was  for- 
bidden to  taste  thereof,  lest  he  might  know  good 
from  evil.  He  wrote  in  reply,  "Where  ignorance  is 
bliss,  'tis  folly  to  be  wise  1"  Still  he  grasped  the 
apple,  and  carried  it  out  of  sight.  It  was  a  'cute 
trick  of  Jim's,  to  make  a  quotation  that  put  me  off 
my  guard,  and  allay  all  suspicion  of  his  intention 
to  commit  petit  larceny.  The  Italian  value  of  the 
apple  was  ^v^  cents,  and  its  weight  about  eight 
ounces.  I  made  no  remonstrance  to  the  act  of  its 
''taking  off,"  believing  it  would  be  returned  in  ''apple- 
pie"  order,  when  it  ceased  to  entertain  the  spirit- 
culprit.  I  was  partly  right ;  yet  not  wholly  so.  In 
five  minutes  after  it  had  been  taken  under  the  table, 
one-half  of  the  apple  was  placed  upon  the  chair,  but 
the  other  half  was  not.  I  looked  for  the  missing 
part  under  the  table,  in  Mrs.  Hollis's  sleeve,  and 
every-where  I  thought  it  could  possibly  be  concealed; 
but  "nix  cum  'raws!"  Half  the  apple  had  been 
consumed,  leaving  an  irregular  or  uneven  surface,  as 
if  it  had  been  sucked  off — not  rough,  as  if  bitten  or 
broken.  The  meat  of  the  apple  was  firm  and  juicy, 
and  remarkably  well  preserved  for  a  wintered  apple. 

Of  course,  I  felt  mystified,  and  asked  Jim  what  he 
did  with  the  four  ounces  of  apple. 

"  I  dissolved  it  by  a  chemical  process  !"  he  said  ; 
and  continued  :  "It  is  now  in  the  atmosphere  of  this 
room,  excepting  so  much  of  it  as  has  escaped  up  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  AJ(^ 

cbimney-flue,  out  the  door,  or  has  been,  breathed  into 
your  lungs." 

Jim  knows  ;  and  I  rest  the  case  upon  his  state- 
ment! I  don't  know  what  useful  purpose  may  be 
subserved  by  recording  this  fact;  still,  while  one 
reader  may  find  it  devoid  of  interest,  another  may 
find  something  in  it  to  think  about. 

An  hour  after  the  foregoing  experiments,  John  R. 
Whaley  and  Mrs.  Elias  L.  Lewis,  with  Mrs.  Hollis 
and  myself,  formed  a  circle  in  the  dark,  and,  after 
singing  a  song  or  two,  the  spirits  began  to  talk.  Mr. 
Whaley's  wife  spoke  to  him  about  family  affairs  ;  after  . 
which,  thirty  spirits — old  Kentucky  friends — were  an- 
nounced by  name,  some  of  whom  colloquied  as 
Elwood  Fisher  had  with  William  M,  Corry.  A  number 
of  half-forgotten  circumstances  were  recalled  by  them, 
and  many  personal  incidents  of  long  ago  revived,  which 
precluded  the  possibility  of  deception  in  the  matter. 
While  Mr.  Whaley  and  Mrs.  Hollis  were  in  conver- 
sation, and  Mrs.  Lewis  and  myself  were  exchanging 
remarks,  a  fifth  voice  addressed  Whaley,  respecting 
some  long-forgotten  fact,  which  settled  his  mind  on 
the  ventriloquial  question.  One  of  the  spirits  gave 
its  middle  name  2iS ./'  Alabama ;'  which  was  not  a 
common  name. 

Mrs.  Lewis  was  spoken  to  by  several  of  her  friends, 
but  on  subjects  that  were  purely  personal  and  private. 

On  the  following  morning,  these  comments  were 
given  in  regard  to  this  seance: 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.    XVII.) 

"  My  Dear  Friend,— The  circle  last  night  was  pleasant  to 
us.     They  appreciated  what  they  received.     We  so  often  have' 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


480  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

our  words  rebound,  that  our  power  becomes  destroyed.  We 
can  not  talk  to  some  people,  because  they  won't  let  us. 

^'Mrs.  Lewis  has  a  finely  developed  spiritual  organization; 
her  whole  nature  responds  to  our  approach,  like  the  ^olian 
harjD  to  the  slightest  motion  of  the  air.  She  has  a  quick  ap- 
preciation of  spiritual  truth.  Really,  she  lives  more  with  spiiits 
than  with  mortals.  Spirits  can  stay  near  her,  lay  their  heads 
on  her  breast,  look  into  her  eyes,  and  find  love  and  sym- 
pathy in  her  soul.  O,  what  happiness  to  meet  such  natuies  ! 
'T  is  sunshine  to  us,  and  brings  forth  the  finer  attributes  of 
our  being. 

"Mr.  Whaley's  heart  is  moved  by  generous  impulses.  This 
attracts  his  old  friends  to  his  presence.  They  can  approach  and 
enter  his  genial  sphere.  All  generous  nalu7-es  can  be  approached 
by  the  spirits,  but  selfish  ones  keep  them  far  away, 

"I  can  not  write  you  a  long  letter  this  morning.  I  will  tell 
you  why  at  some  other  time.  Josephine." 

Dissipating  four  ounces  of  a  juicy  apple  under  the 
table,  so  that  no  particle  of  the  substance  could  be 
discovered  by  the  eye,  induced  me  to  repeat  the  ex- 
periment, with  a  four-ounce  slice  of  pound-cake,  on 
the  evening  of  the  i6th.  I  held  this  on  the  top  of 
the  table,  and  requested  the  spirits  to  take  it  from 
my  hand,  which  they  did.  It  was,  of  course,  taken 
under  the  table,  and,  after  an  interval  of  five  minutes, 
all  the  cake  was  replaced,  excepting  '*a  big  bite  out 
of  it,"  perhaps  one-fourth  of  it,  gone.  This  missing 
fragment,  it  was  alleged,  had  been  reduced  into  thin 
air,  just  as  the  apple  had  ;  though  it  was  said  that 
eggs,  butter,  flour,  and  sugar,  baked,  were  a  trifle 
harder  to  dissolve  than  apple-juice.  This  remark 
suggested  to  my  mind  that  fluids  might  be  more 
readily  evaporated  than  substances.  So  I  placed  a 
wine-glass,  two:-thirds  full  of  sweet  "White  Martha" 
wine,  on  the  chair,  and  said,  ''  Are  you  thirsty  T 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  48 1 

The  reply  came  pi^omptly,  from  under  the  table, 
in  the  shape  of  Jim  Nolan's  hand,  which  took  the 
glass  carefully  around  the  rim,  and  passed  it  out  of 
sight,  I  have  often  seen  men  put  themselves  on  the 
outside  of  a  glass  of  wine,  but  never  before  had  I  seen 
a  table  do  it.  In  the  present  instance,  the  glass  was 
swallowed  with  the  wine.  This,  however,  was  re- 
turned in  three  minutes,  dry\  with  no  symptoms  that 
*'ever  a  dhrop  had  been  in  it,  to  be  slune."  The  room 
was  full  of  wine-odor,  which  was  pleasant  enough,  but 
when  the  table  was  lifted  aside,  and  the  examination 
made,  no  evidence  of  a  "  spill "  could  be  found. 

The  next  experiment,  at  the  table,  was  with  a  dish 
of  flour.  This  I  placed  on  the  chair,  and  requested 
Jim  to  make  in  it  the  imprint  of  his  right-hand.  In 
two  or  three  minutes,  a  slender,  delicate  hand,  as  un- 
like Jim's  as  could  be,  came  out,  and,  after  hovering 
over  the  flour  a  few  seconds,  retired  again.  In  five 
minutes  it  reappeared,  and  settled  deep  in  the  flour, 
leaving  a  perfect  imprint  of  itself  in  the  soft,  snowy 
bed.  The  flour  fell  from  the  hand  ;  but  it  did  not 
dissolve,  as  I  had  seen  it  at  the  cabinet.  I  then 
procured  another  plate  of  flour,  by  request ;  and, 
this  time,  Jim  "put  his  hand  in  it"  like  an  old  stager. 
The  matrix  left  was  half  as  large  again  as  the  first ; 
and  this  experiment  closed  the  table  entertainment. 
After  first  closely  inspecting  Mrs.  Hollis's  hand,  to 
discover  any  flour-dust  there  might  be  upon  it,  but 
in  vain,  I  requested  her  to  place  her  hand  in  the  im- 
prints, which  she  did,  and  in  the  first  there  was  room 
enough  to  receive  two  hands  the  size  of  her  own  ;  and 
in   the  second,  enough  and    to  spare.     The  imprint 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


482  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

which  she  subsequently  made  of  her  hand,  in  flour,  was 
smaller,  and  entirely  different  in  structure. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  Captain  Edward  Air  and 
Judge  Berry,  of  Newport,  Ky.,  had  a  daylight  sit- 
ting at  the  table,  when  the  hands  came  out  and 
handled  pocket-books,  knives,  a  match-safe,  knotted 
and  untied  handkerchiefs,  and  did  a  number  of  other 
strange  things,  literally  under  their  noses.  These 
gentlemen  were  slightly  perplexed  by  what  they  saw. 

Another  half-hour  was  spent  at  the  table,  in  the 
twilight  of  the  evening  of  April  17th,  I  procured  a 
paper  of  fine  needles,  containing  twenty-five  in  number, 
*' No  5,  Royal  Grooveless  Sharps,"  and  placed  it,  with 
an  unbroken  No.  ^o  spool  of  cotton-thread,  on  the 
chair.  I  said,  "Can  you  see  to  thread  a  needle,  in 
the  dark,  under  the  table  ?" 

The  spirit-hand  took  up  the  paper  of  needles  and 
spool  of  cotton,  and  retired  with  them  under  the 
table  ;  and,  in  five  minutes,  again  replaced  them  on 
the  chair.  The  spool  had  been  unwound  ten  wraps, 
and  by  counting  the  needles,  four  were  missing.  I 
said,  ''What  have  you  done  with  the  missing  needles 
and  thread.?"  A  spirit-hand  was  now  projected,  hold- 
ing the  ends  of  a  double-thread  between  its  thumb  and 
forefinger  ;  and  at  the  lower  part  of  the  thread  were 
four  needles,  the  thread  being  passed  through  their 
eyes.  I  took  hold  of  the  needles,  when,  with  a  dexter- 
ous movement,  well  known  to  seamstresses,  the  retained 
ends  of  the  thread  were  evoluted  about  the  finger- 
point,  and  a  returning  knot  made.  This  in  good  light. 
The  length  and  quality  of  the  thread  corresponded 
with  that  which  was  missing  from  the  spool,  and  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  4^3 

four  needles  were  exactly  of  the  size  and  quality  of 
those  that  remahied  in  the  paper.      If  the  reader  will 
think  a  minute  about  this  experiment,  it  will  be  found 
less  insignificant  than  at  first  appears.      Remember, 
Mrs.  HoUis  had  but  one  hand  under  the  table,  and  with 
that  hand  she  was  supporting  a  six-by-ten  slate.     If 
she  had  had  both  hands  disengaged,  under  the  table, 
in  the  dark,  her  patience  would  have  been  sorely  tried 
to  accomplish  so  much,  even  in  a  much  greater  length 
of  time.     I  have  no  desire  to  magnify  this  experiment 
into  undue  importance,  but  simply  to  say  that  it  was 
utterly  impossible  for  one    hand  to  do  it;  therefore 
there  must  have  been  two  hands  to  handle  the  needle 
and  thread,  eyes  to  see,  and  head  to  understand  and 
guide  the  operations.     If  these  premises  are  granted, 
the  presence  of  a  being  possessing  all  the  attributes 
belonging  to  mortals,  is  a  legitimate  inference.     If  the 
advocates  of  unconscious  cerebration  can  apply  then' 
theories  to  meet  the  case  in  point,  they  have  permis- 
sion to  rise  and  explain. 

I  next  placed  a  quire  of  paper  on  the  chair,  and  a 
lead-pencil,  and  requested  a  communication  to  be 
written.  Several  different-sized  hands  attempted  to 
•  take  up  the  pencil,  but  did  not  succeed  well.  Twice 
it  was  picked  up,  but  suddenly  dropped  again,  as  if  it 
had  been  hot.  Then  came  out  the  beautiful  hand  I 
had  so  often  seen  and  touched,  and,  taking  up  the 
pencil,  wrote  ^'Josephine."  This  was  soon  followed 
by  the  words,  ''  God  is  Love."  The  writing  was  hur- 
riedly done,  and  unlike  the  chirography  displayed  in 
her  lengthy  communications  written  under  the  table. 
It  is  only  just  to  say  that  the  flame  of  gas  was  flooding 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


484  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  room  with  light,  and  a  reduction  of  the  supply 
was  asked  for.  I  turned  it  down,  when  Ney's  hand 
appeared,  and  wrote,  ''  We  are  working  for  principles, 
not  men."  It  then  retired  a  few  minutes,  and,  when 
it  again  appeared,  wrote:  "Truth  lives,  error  dies! 
Stand  firm,  all  will  be  well  I" 

On  the  i8th  of  April,  in  the  morning,  after  break- 
fast, I  asked  Josephine,  who  was  announced  at  the 
table,  to  explain  to  me,  as  well  as  she  could,  how  it 
was  the  apple  and  cake  had  been  dissipated,  two  even- 
ings ago.     In  answer,  she  wrote  : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XVIII.) 

'^  My  Dear  Friend, — There  l^as  been  much  said  and  writ- 
ten upon  the  subject  of  disintegration;  and  yet  I  do  not  think 
the  people  understand  it  any  belter  for  what  has  been  said  or 
written.  Indeed,  tlie  finite  mind  can  scarcely  grasp  a  subject 
that  requires  such  fine  analytical  powers  to  expU\in  as 'the  one 
you  have  suggested.  ' 

''All  organized  matter  has  a  principle  of  death  within  its 
form.  That  assails  tiie  bond  of  organization,  and  destroys  it. 
When  this  coherent  bond  is  riven,  the  particles  composing  the 
organization  are  at  once  liberated,  and  disappear.  Tiius,  fire,  as 
a  dissolvent,  destroys  the  bond  of  union,  and  liberates  the  ele- 
ments of  organized  substances.  Chemistry  is  the  handmaid 
of  death,  ever  changing  forms,  reducing  old  ones^  and  creating 
new. 

"The  substance  of  the  apple  was  held  together  by  the  law  of 
elective  affinity,  the  same  that  pervades  the  universe  and  sus- 
tains all  organized  matter.  It  governs  growth,  or  development, 
causing  the  sap  to  ascend,  and  to  flow  from  the  trunk  to  the 
branches  of  the  tree.  Here  the  same  law  awakens  the  bud 
and  blossom  into  life,  and  finally  unfolds  the  luscious  fruit. 
Day  by  day,  the  homogeneous  particles  organize  cells  of  growth, 
until  the  fruit  has  attained  its  matuie  size  ;  when  waves  of  heated 
electricity  pass  through  the  new  organization,  enduing  it  with 
fragrance  and  color.  The  waves  of  heated  electricity  continue 
to  thrill  the  new  organization,  until  the  procreative  law  is  per- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  485 

fected  in  the  ofFspriiig  ;  tben  the  bond  of  union  is  broken,  and 
the  apple  drops  lo  the  oround.  The  dear  old  molher-tree  ma- 
tured it  in  her  bosom,  until  the  conditions  of  independent  life 
had  been  attained,  when  she  reluctantly  consented  to  the 
separation. 

^' The  apple  thus  gradually  developed  from  elements  found 
in  the  atmosphere,  was  held  together  by  elective  laws.  We 
passed  through  the  organization  a  dissolving  chemical  so  potent 
that  the  original  substance  was  instantly  resolved  and  ab- 
sorbed into  the  great  reservoir  of  elements.  The  chemistry  of 
a  natural  law  would  have  accomplished  the  same  result ;  but  we 
desired  to  exhibit,  in  a  special  sense,  the  power  of  the  spirits  in 
this  miraculous  (?)  manner. 

"The  same  power  can  be  exerted  in  the  destruction  of  hu- 
man bodies  ;  but  we  are  careful,  in  all  the  relations  we  sustain 
with  mortals,  not  to  injure  them  in  any  way. 

*'I  have  but  imperfectly  represented  this  subject  to  your  un- 
derstanding; still  I  hope  my  desire  to  please  you  will  make 
some  amends  for  any  lack  of  knowledge  I  may  have  displayed. 

"Josephine." 

The  experiments  at  the  small  table  gfew  in  in- 
terest each  succeeding  circle,'  more  so  than  the  last. 
In  the  twilight  of  the  evening  of  the  i8th  of  April, 
after  Mrs.  Hollis  had  taken  her  position  at  the  table, 
I  first  stopped  my  watch,  and  then  turned  the  stem 
communicating  with  the  ratchet  that  regulated  the 
position  of  the  hands  on  the  dial-plate,  several  times. 
I  did  this  with  the  case  shut,  so  that  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  know  exactly  the  position  of  the  hands,  after 
I  had  ceased  turning  the  stem  without  opening  the 
case.  Without  doing  this,  I  placed  my  watch  on  the 
chair,  from  which  it  was  soon  removed  by  the  spirit- 
hand  to  the  slate  under  the  table.  I  now  said,  "See 
what  o'clock  it  is  by  the  position  of  the  hands  on  the 
dial,  and  write  the  time  on  the  slate.'' 

In  a  few  seconds  the  watch  was  replaced  on  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


486  STARTLING   FACTS  IN 

chair,  and  I  requested  Mrs.  Hbllis  to  put  the  slate  on 
the  chair  also.  This  she  tried  to  do;  but,  holding 
the  slate  in  her  right-hand,  and  sitting  with  her  right 
side  against  the  table,  she  could  not  present  the  slate 
at  the  aperture  at  her  back  without  rising  to  her  feet 
and  passing  around  to  the  other  side  of  the  table, 
and  then  only  by  leaning  over  the  table.  Let  any 
one  try  the  feat,  and  see  what  a  noodle  he'll  make 
of  himself. 

The  slate  was  produced,  and  on  it  was  written, 
"  Nineteen  minutes  to  twelve  !"  I  now  opened  the 
watch,  and  found,  the  hands  pointing  to  the  figures 
thus  written.  The  experiment  was  repeated  several 
times,  and  always  with  entire  accuracy. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  hand  receiving  and 
replacing  the  watch  belonged  to  an  organization  that 
had  intelligence  enough  to  open  and  shut  the  cases  ; 
and  eyes  to  see  the  exact  time,  and  education  to  write 
it  in  good,  legible  letters.  And  all  this  under  the 
table,  and  in  the  dark! 

A  dark  circle  was  held  in  the  evening,  attended 
by  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  Newport, 
wherein  good  manifestations  were  given.  Still  there 
was  so  much  discord  in  the  circle,  that  the  following 
comments  were  written  upon  it  the  next  morning : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.    XIX.) 

"My  Dear  Friend,— ^Sunshine  and  cloud '  alternates  in 
the  circles  you  form  for  us.  Where  we  have  one  of  pleasure  to 
us,  there  are  ten  from  which  we  gather  no  inspiration.  The 
circle  last  night  was  so  dreadfully  material  that  Jimmy  refused 
to  speak.  He  says  he  will  not  meddle  with  family  matters  ;  and 
therefore  will  stand  aside  in  silence,  and  allow  their  own  friends 
to  tell  them  Miow  old  they  are,'  and  *when  they  were  born  !' 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  487 

**  There  are  some  mortals  who  are  so  ignorant  that  they 
scarcely  know  more  of  existence  than  the  animal  that  munches 
its  corn.  They  eat  when  tliey  are  hungry,  and  drink  when  they 
are  dry.  To  talk  to  such  people,  we  feel  to  be  a  damage  and 
a  detriment  to  ourselves.  And  yet,  we  are  told,  we  must  aid 
each  other!  But  how  do  they  aid  us?  In  what  manner  do 
they  return  good  for  good?  It  is  impossible  for  us  to  be 
interested  in  their  little  family  matters;  and  when  they  come 
repeating  these  things  day  after  day,  and  month  after  month, 
is  not  a  little  impatience  excusable  occasionally?  Besides,  is  it 
not  seemingly  throwing  time  away? 

^'We  are  obliged  to  give  manifestations  to  the  world,  and 
it  would  be  a  great  pleasure  to  do  this,  if  we  had  always  good 
conditions  to  receive  us;  but  it  is  the  fewest  number  who 
can  comprehend  the  importance  of  our  mission ;  or  who  under- 
stand the  philosophy  of  spirit-intercourse. 

"1  am  not  complaining  in  any  petulant  spirit  just  now, 
but  am  simply  stating  tiie  tacts  as  they  exist.  The  knowledge 
that  oreat  results  will  arise  from  our  labors  is  the  most  sus- 
taining thought  we  have  to  encourage  us.  If  in  two  hundred 
years ''we  can  look  back  and  say,  'We  began  in  this  great 
work:  we  prepared  the  way  for  the  higher  development  of  more 
exalted  spirits,'  that  will  be  sufficient  reward. 

"Spirits  tliat  return  are  not  evil;  but  the  neglect  ot  op- 
portunities to  improve  their  condition  compels  them  to  come 
back  to  receive  lessons  in  wisdom.  We  listen  to  them  talking 
to  their  friends— repeating  the  same  things  over  and  over 
again.  Do  you  wonder  we  get  tired,  even  as  you  do,  and 
not  feel  happy  with  their  lively  rattle  ? 

''I  have  complained  enough  this  morning,  and  fear  you  will 
begin  to  esteem  me  unamiable.  I  beg  you  will  pardon  my  dis- 
content. I  feel  that  I  may  speak  to  you  of  these  things,  with- 
out the  imputation  of  wrong-doing,  as  we  are  both  working  for 
the  same  beneficent  end,  through  the  same  experiences  and 
instrumentalities.  Josephine. 

It  was  written  on  the  slate,  on  the  evening  of  the 
19th  of  April,  that  Josephine  was  in  France,  and 
had  been  for  six  hours.  It  was  Nolan's  writing  ;  so 
I  asked    him  to    show  his   hand.     This  he  did  very 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


488  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

promptly,  extending  his  band  and  arm  at  least  twelve 
inches,  seizing  my  hand  as  he  did  so  with  considera- 
ble force.  I  then  held  a  bundle  of  paper  near  the 
aperture  in  the  valance,  with  a  pencil  on  top.  I  said, 
"  Can  you  write  while  I  hold  the  paper  ?" 
Nolan  picked  up  the  pencil  and  wrote : 

"  Receive  us  ;  we  are  your  fellow-men." 

Again  he  wrote : 

"  I  still  live.  Yours  truly, 

"  James  Nolan." 

At  the  conclusion,  the  spirit  dropped  the  pencil ; 
and,  after  patting  my  hand,  retired. 

There  seemed  to  be  a  superabundance  of  spirit- 
power  at  the  table.  They  rapped  very  much,  and 
projected  their  hands  through  the  valance  a  number 
of  times.  .The  raps  began  to  roll  like  the  beat  of 
a  drum,  and  finally  the  reveille  was  beaten,  I  think, 
without  the  omission  or  addition  of  a  single  tap. 
Then  followed  a  desultory  beat,  which  he  informed  us 
meant  "  three  cheers  !" 

Nolan  now  requested  the  music-box  to  be  brought 
in  the  room,  and  placed  on  the  table.  It  was  set  to 
play,  and  Nolan  drummed  an  accompaniment  to 
each  of  the  pieces,  in  the  style  of  an  accomplished 
drummer.  This  performance  mystified  me.  I  knew 
there  were  no  sticks  under  the  table,  and  the  sounds 
were  too  sharp  for  fingers  to  produce ;  so  I  said, 
*'  What  are  you  drumming  with  T' 

**  Drum-sticks !"  he  wrote  on  the  slate. 

*^  But  you  have  none  !"  I  said. 

''  I  have  materialized  a  pair,"  he  answered. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  4^9 

"  Can  you  show  them  ?" 

Rapped  :  ''  Yes  !'* 

'^Will  you?" 

**  Yes  1"  by  raps. 

In  a  few  seconds  a  pair  of  drum-sticks,  about  one- 
fourth  the  usual  size,  were  projected  four  inches 
through  the  aperture.  I  requested  him  to  show  them 
entire  ;but  he  wrote,  "  Can't  do  it !" 

I  then  obtained  a  ring  from  Mrs.  Hollis,  with  a 
diamond  set,  and  put  it  on  my  finger.  Holding  it 
in  front  of  the  aperture  about  four  inches,  I  said, 
"Can  you  take  it  off.?"  The  hand  of  the  spirit  took 
hold  of  the  ring  with  its  thumb  and  two  fingers,  and, 
by  dint  of  wriggling  and  pulling,  succeeded  in  getting 
it  off.  In  a  few  seconds  the  spirit-hand  appeared 
with  the  ring  on  the  index  finger.  After  this,  it  was 
shown  several  times,  and  then  held  between->the  thumb 
and  finger  ;  seeing  which,  I  extended  my  hand.  The 
spirit  then,  with  considerable  effort,  replaced  it  on  my 
finger.  I  wanted  to  remove  the  ring  from  the  spirit's 
finger,  and  asked  if  I  might  do  so.     He  wrote  : 

«  1  can  not  explain  the  law  forbidding  it;  but  to  grant  your 
request  would  destroy  my  power  for  the  remainder  of  the 
evening !" 

He  then  seized  the  chair  in  front  of  the  aperture, 
and  first  drew  it  close  up  to  the  table;  then,  with  a 
sudden  push,  forced  it  to  the  middle  of  the  floor, 
several  feet  distant.  This  closed  the  manifestations 
for  the  evening. 

On  the  next  morning,  Sunday,  April  20th,  while 
the  streets  were  thronged  with  church-going  people, 
the  following  letter  was  received  : 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


490  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.   XX.) 

*'My  Dear  Friend,— I  liave  passed  most  of  the  last  thirty- 
six  hours  in  France  ;  hence  I  did  not  write  to  you  yesterday. 
But  1  am  here  again  to  give  you  a  letter  tiiis  morning.  I  fear  1 
bring  you  but  a  poor  offering  as  a  reward  for  your  kindness  and 
painstaking  with  us  ;  but  it  is  a  happiness  to  me  to  do  this, 

"  While  looking  over  the  land,  this  beautiful  Spring  morning, 
I  could  not  help  thinking  how  like  a  pawnbroker's-shop  the  whole 
city  appeared.  Women  pawning  the  sensitive  germs  of  their 
souls,  regardless  of  tlieir  value,  simply  for  the  love  of  display. 
For  diamonds  and  rich  lace,  they  sacrifice  every  great  and  good 
impulse.  They  are  so  steeped  in  all  that  is  artificial,  that  they 
can  not  rise  above  it.  Hence  their  misery  and  discontent. 
Dress  has  become  their  master;  and  when  they  realize  their 
degradation,  they  affect  humility,  and  pawn  their  poor  starved 
souls  to  the  Church.  But  the  Church  affords  no  relief;  on  the 
contrary,  its  very  life  depends  on  keeping  up  this  extravagant 
passion  for  dress.  Fashion  rules  the  Church,  as  well  as  tyran- 
nizes over  the  soul. 

"There  is  a  germ  of  divinity  in  the  soul,  however,  which 
neither  Church  nor  fashion  can  destroy.  It  may  be  necessary 
to  bury  the  body  in  the  ground  before  it  develops  itself,  as  you 
do  the  seed-corn  before  it  can  show  tiie  vital  spark  wrapped  u[) 
in  ils  organization.  When  this  is  done,  it  will  spring  out  of  the 
old  body  with  gladness,  rejoicing  to  be  released  from  the  bond- 
age of  Church  and  State. 

"Death  to  the  seed-corn  develops  the  life-germ  it  contained 
into  the  living  grain.  So  death,  to  the  body  and  outward  show, 
will  libeiate  the  faculties  of  the  fettered  soul,  and  give  it  joy 
unspeakable.' 

"But  how  utterly  useless  it  is  to  tell  these  people  that  they 
will  come  to  the  spirit-world,  naked  as  they  entered  the  earth  ! 
Arouse,  ye  sleepers!  What  does  the  great  Creative  Power  care 
for  your  gewgaws  and  your  fame!  To  that  Power,  you  appear 
as  mites — microscopic  specks  on  the  changing  page  of  Time. 
Learn,  while  you  may,  such  truths  as  will  be  a  lamp  to  your 
feet,  and  a  light  to  your  eyes,  when  you  enter  the  spirit-world. 
"Ever  your  true  friend,  Josephine." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIN  ITU  A  LISM.  49 1 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

TABLE-TESTS  REPEATED— DARK  SEANCE-GIVING— RE- 
MARKABLE  STATEMENT  OF  "OLD  SKI,"  WITH  A 
MORAL- JOSEPHINE  HAPPY -EXPERIMENT  WPrH 
WATER— SMELLS  FROM  THE  INFERNO— COAL  MER- 
CHANT  — SPICED  MILK  — QUEER  TASTE  — A  DARK 
CIRCLE  — THE  SPIRITS  REFUSE  TO  MANIFEST  — 
CAUSE,  WHISKY— JOSEPIHNE  ON  THE  SITUATION— 
A  DOUBTFUL  BEVERAGE-QUEER  ODORS— A  MIR- 
ACLE-EXTRAORDINARY BOOK-TEST-DARK  CIR- 
CLE—JOSEPHINE AGAIN-BOOK-TEST  REPEATED— 
A  CIRCLE  OF  PROSCRIBED  MEN  AND  WOMEN - 
JOSEPHINE  PLEASED. 

THE  remarkable  character  of  the  phenomena  oc- 
curring at  the  table  suggested  the  propriety  of 
having  some  one  besides  myself  to  witness  them,  as 
my  unsupported  statement  of  the  facts  might  be  con- 
fronted with  a  mass  of  incredulity  that  would  throw 
discredit  upon  the  entire  report.  I,  therefore,  said  to 
Nolan  : 

''Can't  you  give  these  manifestations  in  the  pres- 
ence of  another  witness  ?" 

''  That  depends  upon  who  the  witness  is,"  was 
his  reply.  "If  you  can  get  one  who  will  not  disturb 
the  conditions  we  have  established,  we  can  give  you 
still  better  tests  than  you  have  yet  received." 

''How  would  Mr.  Plimpton  do  ?"  I  said. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


492  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"I  would  have  suggested  him,  if  yoa  had  not/' 
said  Jim. 

"Very  well!  I'll  have  him  here  this  evening,  if 
he  feels  like  it/' 

In  my  afternoon  drive  with  Mrs.  Hollis,  we  met 
Mr.  Plimpton,  and  informed  him  of  his  selection  for 
the  position  of  analytical  inspector  of  phenomena 
which  I  esteemed  the  most  conclusive  testimony  of 
spirit-presence  it  had  been  my  privilege  to  see.  He 
came  early,  and  the  half-hour  seance  before  tea  was 
consumed  in  reproducing  the  '' thread-and-needle 
test "  and  "■  the  watch-test,"  described  in  the  last 
chapter.  Mr.  Plimpton  will  make  his  report  of  what 
he  saw  at  the  table,  a  little  farther  on. 

After  tea,  v^e  decided  to  hold  a  dark  circle,  and, 
Mrs.  Miller  and  four  members  of  my  family  joining 
us,  we  went  to  the  dark  room.  Almost  coinstantial 
with  the  extinguishment  of  the  light,  a  spirit-voice 
requested  us  to  sing.  While  we  were  talking  about 
what  we  should  sing,  a  spirit-voice  began  to  sing 
or  chant  alone.  At  the  conclusion  of  this  voluntary, 
Mrs.  Miller's  son  George  addressed  her,  and  spoke 
of  family  affairs.  Then  Mr.  Plimpton's  mother  spoke, 
asking  if  he  remembered  certain  persons  in  the  vil- 
lage where  they  had  lived,  whom  she  named,  among 
them  the  physician  who  attended  in  her  last  illness, 
and  a  large  number  of  relatives  and  friends. 

Every  member  of  my  family  was  spoken  to  by 
spirits  ;  and  Aunt  Betsy  Lockard  did  not  fail  to  say 
a  good  word  to  me.  Jim  Nolan  then  spoke  for  half 
an  hour,  in  a  strain  of  fervid  eloquence,  on  the  mission 
of  the  ''new  revealment ;"  after  which,  "old  Ski"  had 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  493 

his  "put"  on  personal  tests.  He  rather  surprised 
me  by  stating  that^he  *' had  been  out  riding  with  em 
old  chief  and  mejum,  and  hear  em  all  em  said  !" 

''Come,  come,  Ski!  I  guess  you  didn't  hear 
every  thing  we  said  1" 

''  So  !  em  did  !"  he  replied. 

^' Well,  tell  us  the  road  we  went,  and  what  you 
heard  ?" 

*' Went  em  on  Gest  Street — up  em  big  hillto  toll- 
gate.  Told  em  old  gate  chief  em  go  to  Warsaw  em 
back;  em  pay  em  old  gate  chief  ten  cents— five  for 
em  go,  five  for  em  come.  Old  chief  no  stop  em 
Warsaw— stop  em  Gazlem's  !  Cheat  em  gate  chief 
two  cents  !     So  !" 

It  is  necessary  to  rise  and  make  an  explanation 
,to  this  invisible  charge  of  fraud  upon  "em  gate 
chief!"  I  do  this,  however,  with  no  view  to  change 
the  character  of  the  indictment,  but  to  state  the 
circumstances  in  mitigation  of  the  penalty  attached 
to  the  guilt  confessed.  The  circumstances  which  the 
old  Indian  has  so  faithfully  presented,  were  brought 
about  in  this  way  :  When  paying  toll,  Mrs.  Mollis 
said,  "We'll  turn  at  Warsaw."  I  paid  accordingly, 
just  as  "Ski"  has  represented  ;  but,  after  getting  to 
Warsaw,  we  concluded  to  drive  a  mile  farther  to 
Gazlay's  Corners,  as  the  road  was  good,  the  evening 
pleasant,  and  the  topic  of  conversation  entertaining. 
Rather,  it  is  more  truthful  to  say  that  the  horse  took 
us  to  the  "  Corners,"  from  force  of  habit,  and  the 
matter  of  two  cents  additional  toll  was  entirely  over- 
looked. 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  the  interest  attached 
44 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


494  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

to    this    disclosure    of    ''Old    Ski's'*    centers    in    the 
fact'  that    we    can    do    nothing,    or    say    nothing,   but 
what  is  known   to  our  invisible  guides,  or  guardians. 
Guilt  has  no  protection  in  the  presence  of  a  medium, 
if  the   spirit-world   determines  to  bring  the   offender 
to  justice.     Upon   the  occasion  in  question,  the  "old 
Indian"   rendered    an   almost  verbatim  report   of  the 
conversation  between  Mrs.  Hollis  and  myself.     When 
\'\^^Vi   get  to  understand   that  detection  follows  crime, 
as   shadow  substance,  they  will  cease  to  do  ill,  and 
learn  to  do  well.     This  is  a  good  place  to   **  stick  a 
pin,"  in    answer    to    the    question  which   we    so   fre- 
quently hear   snivelers   ask,  "  What   good  can  come 
out  of  Nazareth  ?" 

On  the  following  morning,  April  2ist,  this  letter 
was  received  by  the  spirit  post-mistress  at  the  table  : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LEriERS,  No.    XXI.) 

"  My  Dear  Friend, — T  am  grateful  that  j'ou  dfcl  not  fill 
3'our  circle  last  night  with  skeptical  people,  to  disttirb  the 
harmony  of  the  occasion.  Mr.  Plimptori's  n^.olher  and  sister 
approached  him  nearer  hist  night  thari  ever  before.  After 
speaking  to  him,  with  all  tlie  love  of  a  mother's  heart,  she 
wept  with  joy.  She  stood  over  him  weeping,  as  it  she  had  just 
found  a  long-lost  cliild.  Her  whole  soul  was  overflowiiig  wilh 
love  and  gratitude  to  the  Power  that  permitted  her  to  return 
to  her  child  once  more.  Again  and  again  can  she  come  to 
tell  the  story  of  her  love,  which  has  grown  I)righter  and  liolier 
in  the  spirit-land!  Again  can  she  say:  '  I  ^n  not  dead,  hut 
living  !  My  interest  in  you,  my  dear  child,  is  just  tlie  same  ! 
Death  cast  aside  tlie  physical  form,  but  the  mother  remains 
in  my  soul'  Much  more  could  I  write  this  morning;  but  the 
subject  is  exhaustless  !  Nothing  touciies  my  heart  so  quickly 
as  a  mother's  devotion  to  her  child. 

"  And,  too,  Mrs.  Miller,  what  love  she  retains  for  her  dar- 
lings in    the  spirit-iife  !     We  have  a  firm  friend  in    her.     The 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  495 

whole  atmosphere  of  the  woman  is  an  unuttered  prayer  of 
thanksgiving  that  her  friends  can  come  back  feeling  they  bring 
to  her  love  and  sympathy. 

"Fanny  and  Tom  and  Lida,  all  were  remembered  by  their 
spirit-friends— the  mother's  voice  blessing  her  child,  whom 
she  left  years  ago  to  struggle  with  a  cold  world,  assuring  her 
of  the  love  and  care  thrown  around  her  by  her  spirit-friends. 

'•All  this  only  adds  anotliev  link  to  the  chain  of  evidence 
which  shows  the  nearness  of  the  spirit-land,  and  to  establish 
the  fact  that  love  never  dies,  but  grows  stronger  and  brighter 
and  purer  as  we  grow  wiser  and  better  in  the  spirit-world. 

''  I  listened  to  the  voices  last  night,  with  joy  in  my  heart 
and  peace  in  my  soul;  and  the  prayer  arose  to  my  lips  in 
these  words:  'Thanks  to  the  creative  power  for  this  life! 
And  O,  may  these  truths  pervade  the  souls  of  all  men  and 
women,  and  teach  them  there  is  no  death— that  they  can  not 
die  !'  and  so  my  soul  was  wrapped  in  holy  thought  I  kneeled 
by  the  side  of  the  medium  during  the  entire  seance.  Aunt 
Betsy  first  calling  you  by  the  name  I  loved  to  call  my  husband, 
thrilled  me  through  and  through,  bringing  back  so  much  of  my 
life  in  France,  that  I  could  almost  hear  again  the  voice  of  my  dear 
one,  as  in  days  long  past,  when  he  spoke  to  me  loving  words. 

"How  grateful  my  soul  is,  this  bright  morning,  for  all  your 
kindness  in  furnishing  us  with  such  good  conditions  !  I  fear 
1  have  exhausted  the  medium  too  much,  and  must  now  close; 
but  not  before  I  again  assure  you,  I  am  ever  your  devoted 
friend,  -  Josephine." 

On  the  2 1st  of  April,  having  just  returned  from  a 
drive  through  Walnut  Hills,  Mrs.  Hollis  sat  by  the 
table  for  manifestations,  holding  the  slate  in  her  right- 
hand.  The  dissipation  of  the  cake,  the  wine,  and  the 
apple,  induced  me  to  ask  if  they  had  the  power  to 
restore  these  articles  again,  promising  to  believe  It  a 
miracle,  if  they  did  so.  They  could  not  do  it.  I  had, 
at  last,  found  the  limit  of  possibility  with  them.  But 
Jim  Nolan  said  he  would  make  me  a  glass  of  wine,  if 
I  furnished  him  with  a  glass  'of  water. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


496  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

"Do  you  mean  to  convert  the  water  into  wine?" 
I  said. 

*' Get  the  water!"  was  the  command. 

"  Certainly  ;  you  shall  have  it.  But  I  caution  you 
to  be  careful  how  you  tamper  with  holy  things." 

"  Get  the  water  !"  he  said  again. 

"  I  'm  a  gittin' !"  And  I  got  the  water — a  pitcher 
full,  from  the  cistern  ;  clear  as  crystal,  and  sparkling 
as  diamonds.  It  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader  to 
know,  in  view  of  what  follows,  that  the  water  was  run 
in  the  cistern  when  the  Ohio  River  was  low,  so  there 
was  no  admixture  of  soil,  etc.,  to  vitiate  its  purity/. 
Well,  Jim  wanted  only  a  wine-glass  full  of  water,  and 
I  gave  it  to  him.  He  carried  it  under  the  table,  and, 
in  about  ten  minutes  thereafter,  there  w^s  the  strong- 
est smell  of  aromatics  proceeding  from  under  that  lit- 
tle table,  that  I  had  sensed  for  a  long  time.  The  odor 
filled  the  room,  and  almost  rendered  the  atmosphere 
unfit  to  breathe.  There  was  not  the  slightest  trace 
oi  sulphur  i\\  \\ij  however;  and  that  was  a  comfort.  I 
can  stand  any  thing  but  the  smell  of  a  coal-merchant. 
Such,  I  am  always  fearful,  will  burn  forever  in  a  blue 
flame,  or  expire  by  spontaneous  combustion  ;  so  I 
am  always  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  insecurity  when 
in  their  presence.  There  were  no  little  jets  of  ''blue 
blazes"  flitting  up  around  the  table  under  which  the 
water  was  concealed- — nothing,  only  the  smell  of  spices. 

In  ten  minutes,  Jim  handed  out  the  wine-glass, 
filled  with  spiced  milk,  it  seemed.  It  was  a  clean, 
white-looking  fluid.  I  smelt  it  cautiously,  as  if  it  was 
fortified  harsthorn  (always  be  cautious  when  you 
smell  hartshorn,  else  you'll  fancy  you  Ve  been  struck 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  497 

with  a  slung-shot)  ;  but  it  was  pleasant  1  I  rather  liked 
it  ;  that  is,  its  odor  was  not  obnoxious.  ''  Suppose  I 
taste  it,"  I  said,  addressing  Mrs.  Hollis,  who  was 
amazed  at  the  milk. 

*'  Do  not ;  it  may  be  poison  !" 

"  In  such  a  quantity  ?  Never  !  I  '11  taste  it,  if  I 
lose  my  tongue  by  it  P'  So  I  tasted  it,  and  it  tasted 
very  queer.  It  was  a  queer  taste.  It  was  unlike  a  kiss  ; 
and  yet  it  reminded  you  of  something  of  the  kind: 
for  you  began,  at  once,  to  make  inverted  explosive  suc- 
cessions with  the  lips,  something  like  fanciful  kissing. 
Like  a  drop  of  peppermint,  it  imparted  a  diffused, 
pungent  warmth  to  the  tongue  and  faucal  appendages. 
It  was  a  stimulating  exhilarant,  and  caused  the  sali- 
vary glands  to  secrete  copiously.  '  In  a  few  minutes 
the  mouth  became  comfortable  again,  and  I  was 
prepared  to  render  an  opinion. 

As  a  wine,  judged  by  the  color  and  quality  of 
standard  wines,  this  spiritual  brew  was  a  failure,  and 
so  I  informed  Jim.  He  must  do  better  than  that,  if 
he  desired  to  compete  with  Longworth's  ''  Golden 
Wedding,"  or  the  ''Muscat  "of  Werk.  But  it  was 
no  longer  water!  It  was  a  transformed  fluid,  a  be- 
tweenity  of  water  and  wine,  which  no  man  would 
mistake  for  either,  unless  he  was  daft  of  reason  and 
shorn  of  sense.  Jim  felt  rather  ashamed  of  this  ex- 
periment, and  promised  to  renew  it  on  the  following 
evening.  As  my  ofBce  is  simply  to  record  facts,  I 
offer  no  comments  on  the  foregoing  experiment  ;  still 
I  am  not  insensible  to  the  interest  which  thoughtful 
minds  will  attach  to  it. 

As  if  oleased  with  the  conclusion  of  this  experi- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


498  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

ment,  Jim  reached  his  hand  to  the  little  waiter  on  the 
chair,  and  tattooed  on  it  with  his  fingers  for  several 
minutes.  He  then  suddenly  took  hold  of  my  hand, 
resting  on  the  top  of  the  table,,  and  gave  it  a  pretty 
fair  grip.     This  terminated  the  table  i"^/^;/*;^. 

Monday  evening  was  engaged  by  a  man  who  did 
not  desire  to  give  his  name,  but  who  represented  him- 
self as  doing  business  on  Fourth  Street.  I  declined 
making  this  engagement,  several  times,  on  the  basis 
that  it  was  an  implied  reproach  upon  my  integrity  to 
withhold  such  a  civility,  when,  at  the  same  time,  the 
unknown  was  seeking  admission  to  my  house  and  the 
presence  of  my  family.  Against  my  better  judgment 
and  an  established  rule  for  forming  circles,  I  consented 
to  allow  this  fellow  to  interview  the  spirits  on  the 
evening  of  the  2ist  of  April.     I  did  wrong. 

At  the  time  appointed,  this  man,  and  four  other 
men,  entered  my  parlors.  I  knew  only  him  by  sight; 
the  remainder  were  entire  strangers  to  me.  It  did 
not  require  but  a  few  minutes  to  let  him  know  he 
had  abused  the  concession  I  had  made  in  his  favor; 
and  I  refused, -for  a  time,  to  allow  his  party  to  enter 
the  circle-room.  I  informed  Mrs.  Hollis  of  the  state 
affairs;  and  she  said  she  was  willing  to  sit,  if  I  con- 
sented to  admit  them.  So  into  the  dark  room  we 
went,  and  I  very  soon  ascertained  that  two  mistakes 
had  been  made.  Two  spirits  attempted  to  talk,  and 
said  enough  to  be  identified  as  spirits  simply,  when 
Nolan  said,  "  I  will  not  speak  to  men  under  the  influ- 
ence of  whisky." 

I  lighted  that  room  in  a  jiffy,  and  escorted  the 
unknown  and  his  party  to  the  door,  with  the  assurance 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  499 

that  they  would  most  probably  never  enter  it  again 
while  it  was  my  dwelling-place  ;  certainly,  never  to  a 
spirit-circle,  I  am  afraid  I  was  not  amiable  in  taking 
leave  of  them.  On  the  following  morning,  this  letter 
was  written  at  the  table: 

(JOSlirHlNlL'S  LE'L-TERS,  No.    XXII.) 

'•  My  dear  Friend,— There  are  people  who  come  to  our 
circles  saturated  with  whisky  and  tobacco.  These  agents  gen- 
erate a  bad  magnetism,  and  an  odor  so  unpleasant  that  tlie  most 
disagreeable  effluvia  of  earth  could  scarcely  be  more  obnoxious 
to  our  senses.  We  try  to  approach  them  ;  but  their  stencli  causes 
us  to  retire,  sick  and  disgusted.  That  men  should  think  they 
must  brutalize  themselves  in  this  way  before  they  can  listen  to 
the  voices  of  those  who  were  dear  to  them  in  life,  is  a  dismal 
pity,  and  a  humiliating  infatuation.  Sucli  people  surely  live  In 
the  pit  of  Ashur,  where  the  worm  dieth  not. 

"  O  men  !  will  you  make  devils  of  yourselves  ?  We  have  too 
many  such  in  the  spirit-world  ;  send  us  no  more.  Arouse  from 
this  unnatural  condition,  and  aspire  to  a  higher  and  better  life. 
Do  not  insult  and  grieve  your  friends  who  have  left  their  pleas- 
ant abodes,  and  come  trying  to  make  clear  to  your  understand- 
ing the  reality  of  tlie  after-life.  You  all  need  the  assurance  we 
brTng  of  a  higher  life  Then,  for  the  sake  of  all  concerned,  de- 
base yourselves  no  more.  If  you  could  see  the  hosts  of  spirits 
chained  to  earth  by  their  degrading  vices,  wandering,  year  after 
year,  about  the  haunts  of  their  defilement,  you  would,  in  prefer- 
ence to  being  such,  beg  for  annihilation. 

"Your  circle,  last  night,  was,  to  us,  unpleasant  and  hurtful. 
We  will  not— can  not — approach  men  who  are  under  the  influ' 
ence  of  intoxicating  drink.  We  can  do  them  no  good,  and  they 
do  us  much  harm.  When  you  find  such  persons  in  the  circle- 
room,  adjourn  at  once.  They  outrage  our  better  natures,  and 
stifle  inspiration.  If  such  people  purposely  unfit  themselves  for 
our  presence,  they  must  take  the  consequences,  and  the  remorse 
which  comes  too  late. 

"  But  let  them  seek  us  through  proper  conditions,  and  we  will 
gladly  assure  them  of  an  after-hfe.  Their  spirit-friends  will  es- 
tablish their  identity,  and  impart  to  them  messages  of  love  and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


500  .     STARTLING  FACTS  /A 

encouragement.  Beg  of  those  wlio  come,  to  meet  us  as  pure 
beings,  leady  to  enfold  them  lovingly  in  our  arms,  if  lliey  will 
permit  us  to  do  so.  You  did  well  to  reject  (heir  money  ;  and 
could  you  have  heard  the  applause  given  you  by  the  spirit-hosts 
about  you,  when  you  rebuked  these  poltroons,  you  would  have 
realized  how  much  we  appreciate  your  worth. 

'^  Josephine." 

Jim  Nolan  was  not  satisfied  with  his  miraculous 
effort  to  transform  water  into  wine  ;  so  he  made  re- 
quest that  the  experiment  should  be  repeated.  Ac- 
cordingly, in  the  evening  twilight  of  the  22d  of  April, 
another  wine-glass,  two-thirds  filled  with  the  same  crys- 
tal brew  from  the  cistern,  was  placed  before  him,  and 
was  soon  taken  through  the  aperture,  under  the  table. 

In  a  little  time,  say  five  minutes,  Mrs.  Hollis  com- 
plained of  dizziness  of  the  head,  and  desired  to  post- 
pone the  experiment  for  the  present.  I  begged  her 
to  remain  quiet,  the  worst  was  over,  and,  if  she  fainted, 
I  promised  to  throw  a  pitcher-full  of  water  in  her  face, 
indifferent  to  the  sacrifice  of  so  much  prospective 
wine.  Again,  an  odor  began  to  emanate  from  beneath 
the  table,  growing  stronger  each  moment,  until  the 
atmosphere  became  charged,  as  in  a  distillery  of  high 
wines.  Mrs.  Hollis  grew  better  under  the  inhalation 
of  this  spirituous  vapor;  but  I  began  to  experience  a 
fullness  in  the  veins  and  arteries  of  the  head,  indicating 
the  approach  of  asphyxia.  I  opened  the  door  to  ad- 
mit fresh  air,  which  I  could  do  without  moving  from 
my  chair  or  taking  my  eyes,  for  an  instant,  off  the 
medium.  In  ten  minutes,  the  experiment  was  com- 
pleted, and  the  glass  of  water — or  wine,  as  you  elect — 
was  placed  before  the  aperture,  on  the  chair.  The  fluid 
was  clear  and  colorless  as  when  it  was  taken  under 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  50 1 

the  table,  but  there  was  a  strong  vinous  smell  to  it. 
Jim  wrote  : 

'^  Let  it  alone  ;  we  are  not.  done  with  it." 

It  was  again  taken  through  the  aperture,  and,  in 
four  minutes,  reproduced ;  but  this  time,  a  clear, 
transparent,  amber-colored  wine!  The  transforma- 
tion was  complete  !  I  tasted  it ;  acid  and  sugar  and 
spirit  were  pleasantly  blended  in  the  beverage  ;  and  I 
believe,  if  used  in  equal  quantities  with  intoxicating 
wines,  its  effect  on  the  vascular  system  would  be 
precisely  analogous. 

I  have  bottled  this  wine,  and  it  is  in  the  hands  of 
Professor  Wayne,  the  well-known  chemist,  for  anal- 
ysis. If  his  formula  of  ingredients  is  received  before 
this  chapter  is  printed,  I  will  insert  it  here;  if  not, 
then  the  experiment  must  be  considered  only  as  a 
curious  transmutation  of  water,  which 

"  Looked  upon  its  Maker's  face,  and  blushed." 

The  plain  prose  of  this  experiment  is,  that  Jim 
Nolan  chemicalized  the  water,  and  made  a  wine  of  it. 
If  I  did  not  know  this,  I  should  call  it  a  miracle  ; 
information  is  very  bad  for  the  miraculous. 

The  value  of  this  experiment  has  not  been  a  lead- 
ing question  in  my  mind.  I  have  somewhere  heard 
of  water  being  converted  into  wine,  and  I  only  wished 
to  ascertain  for  myself,  while  I  had  the  opportunity, 
whether  the  thing  was  practical  or  not. 

The  next  experiment  at  the  table  was  with  a 
book.  I  had  purchased,  late  in  the  day,  a  small 
volume  of  "Pope's  Essay  on  Man,"' and  had  it  in  my 
pocket.     It  had  not  been  opened;  so  I  laid  it  on  the 

45 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


502  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

chair,  and  Nolan  carried  it  under  the  table.  After 
he  did  this,  I  said  : 

**Can  you  read  that  book  under  the  table  in  the 
dark  ?" 

The  raps  indicated  an  affirmative  reply.  I  said 
again  : 

^*  Please  read  a  passage,  and  write  it  on  the  slate  ; 
and  indicate  the  page  of  the  book  where  the  passage 
may  be  found.'* 

In  a  few  minutes,  not  exceeding  ten,  the  book  was 
replaced  on  the  chair,  and  the  slate  rapped  upon,  to 
have  it  withdrawn.     I  took  the  slate,  and  read  : 

"  Page  46 — 
*'  O  Happiness  !  our  being's  end  and  aim.'* 

"  Page  48— 
''  Order  is  Heaven's  first  law." 

I  now  opened  the  book  at  the  pages  written  above, 
and  found  the  words  as  quoted  on  each  page,  exactly 
as  it  had  been  represented. 

I  desire  no  stronger  testimony  to  prove  the  pres- 
ence of  an  educated  mind  under  the  table— a  mind 
that  had  eyes  to  see,  hands  to. serve,  and  brain  to 
comprehend— than  is  furnished  by  the  experiments 
with  the  book  and  watch.  It  is  not  material  to  the 
object  of  my  writing  that  you  call  such  mind  spirit. 
But  call  it  something ;  give  it  a  name  of  which  you^will 
not  be  ashamed.  I  have  no  argument  to  offer  but  that 
which  every  thoughtful  man  and  woman  has  already 
anticipated.  The  verdict  of  the  reader  must  rest  upon 
the  facts  of  the  case.  Rhetoric  is  dumb  in  their  im- 
pressive presence,  and  all  elaborate  speech  contemptible. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  503 

Lay  aside  prejudice,  and  look  these  facts  squarely  iti 
the  face.     Let  us  not  turn  away  from  Truth. 

''  One  vision  of  her  snowy  feet 
Is  worth  the  labor  of  a  life." 

With  all  the  vigilance  I  could  exercise,  I  was  not 
able  to  form  good  circles  for  the  spirits.  One  good 
man  would  come  to  arrange  for  a  ^^^;/<:^,  and  he  would 
represent  his  personal  friends  as  being  all  right  ;  and 
believed  them  to  be  so,  too  ;  but  when  they  entered  - 
the  dark  circle,  the  spirits  discovered  such  people,  fre- 
quently, to  be  all  wrong.  I  felicitated  myself  on  hav- 
ing a  good  circle  for  the  spirits,  on  the  night  of  the 
22d  of  April,— if  I  entertained  any  misgivings  during 
the  evening  on  the  subject,  the  doubt  was  put  to 
rest  by  the  reception  of  the  following  letter,  next 
morning : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XXIII.) 

'^My  Dear  Friend,— My  letter  will  be  short  this  morning, 
as  our  medium  is  very  much  exlmusted.  When  she  gives  out 
her  magnetism,  she  can  .s[)are  only  so  much  ;  I  will  have  to 
write  but  little  until  she  is  quite  restored.  Monday  and  Tues- 
day have  been  very  exhausting  days  for  her,  and  that  is  my 
reason  for  writing  so  briefly  to  day.  When  she  is  less  worked, 
I  will  write  more  fully  my  passing  tlioughts. 

"Last  night  but  little  good  was  accomplished  in  the  circle. 
The  people  present  were  simply  egotistical  and  selfish,  to  an  un- 
common extent.  They  are  the  weeds  and  brambles  we  find 
growing  along  the  highways  of  life;  and  objects  of  pity  to  the 
passer-by.  And  yet  they  are  no  worse  than  two-thirds  of  the 
human  race. 

<'  O  wisdom  !  how  thou  art  to  be  coveted !  What  is  wealth 
without  thee?  Knowledge  is  the  savior  of  the  world,  igno- 
rance its  curse  and  devil!  Help  me,  my  friend,  to  awaken 
in  the  souls  of  these  people  a  realizing  sense  of  their  weakness. 
Tear  out  the  weeds   and  thistles   of  ignorance    by  the    roots, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


504  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

that  grow  rank  in  their  souls;  then  spiritual  light  and  warmth 
will  quicken  their  better  natures  into  life. 

"You  have  done  much  for  us,  my  good  friend.  We  thank 
you.  Josephine." 

The  twilight  seance  of  the  23d  of  April  was  a 
reproduction  of  the  book-test.  This  time  a  large 
volume  of  poems,  called  "  The  Great  Republic,"  a 
work  published  in  England  only- — a  copy  of  which  I 
borrowed  for  the  occasion — was  placed  on  the  chair. 
It  was  a  little  cumbersome  to  handle,  and  heavy. 
After  going  over  the  same  ground  we  had  with  the 
other  book,  book  and  slate  again  appeared  in  like 
manner  as  before  stated.     It  was  written  on  the  slate : 

"  Page  224 — 

"The  ghosts  of  our  dead  years,  a  piteous  throng, 
Cower  on  wintry  steeps  ;  and,  shuddering  there, 

Mingle  their  flocks  with  phantoms  borne  along- — 
Powers,  splendors,  victories,  divinely  fair, 

That  might  have  been,  but  are  not !  Fail  our  fires  ! 

In  each,  unborn,  some  heavenly  hope  expires." 

This  was  a  literal  extract  from  the  224th  page  of 
a  book  into  which  neither  Mrs.  Hollis  nor  myself  had 
looked.  The  quotation  was  strange,  weird,  and  sin- 
gularly conceived.  Mr.  Plimpton  came  in  as  the  test 
was  concluded. 

Recognizing  men  and  women  at  their  par  value, 
I  did  not  discriminate  against  a  class  of  people  whom 
the  wealthy  and  fashionable  butterflies  of  life  call 
outcasts,  but  granted  a  seance  to  nine  of  them,  on  the 
night  of  the  23d  of  April.  If  spiritualism  can  not 
raise  the  fallen,  and  speak  comfort  to  their  hearts, 
it  is  no  better  than  the  Churches,  and  deserves  to 
have  its  Christ-like  life  crushed  out  of  it,  as   it  has 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  S^S 

been  from    the  stony-hearted  creeds  of  modern    pa- 
ganism. 

These  people  talked  intelligently ;  and  it  was 
matter  of  astonishment  to  find  them  so  capable  of 
receiving  the  higher  truths  of  spirit-teachings.  Two 
songs  were  sung,  accompanied  by  the  spirits;  after 
which,  the  conversations  commenced,  and  continued 
for  two  hours  and  a  half  During  this  time,  twelve 
spirits  talked  by  spells  to  the  different  members  of 
the  circle,  and  gave  their  names,  and  otherwise  iden- 
tified themselves.  The  conversations  were  purely 
personal  and  private  ;  but  they  had  the  better  effect 
*'for  a  that."  In  the  morning  the  table  comments 
were  as  follows  : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS.  No.  XXIV.) 

''  My  Dear  Friend,— Your  circle  last  night  was  composed 
of  people  who  are  quite  spiritually  developed,  ibough  not  pos- 
sessing what  is  fashionably  styled  a  religious  education.  When 
their  tViends  came  to  assure  them  of  their  presence,  they  were 
received  with  the  happy  spirit  of  confiding  love.  It  was  this 
that  opened  the  avenue  to  their  spheres,  and  permitted  the 
light  to  shine  upon  their  hearts. 

"All  who  came  last  night  went  away  happier  and  better. 
They  knew  that  angels  were  in  their  midst.  I  am  always 
happy  to  assist  willing  people,  no  matter  what  station  in  life 
they  occupy,  or  where  the  world  may  place  them.  There  was 
sunshine  in  their  hearts,  and  joy  in  their  souls;  both  the  spirits 
and  mortals  felt  this. 

"For  a  large  promiscuous  circle,  it  was  the  best  you  have 
liad.  Those  people  feel,  this  morning,  that  the  coffin-lid  has 
been  lifted  from  the  face  of  their  friends  ;  and  that  they  are 
with  them,  loving  with  a  stronger  love  and  more  purified 
affection.  O,  I  am  so  glad  to  bring  sunshine  to  these  people, 
and  teach  them  lessons  that  will  lead  them  to  higher  planes 
of  thought,  and  fit  them  for  happier  conditions  of  life] 

*'  Few  are  so  peculiarly  situated  as  myself.     AH  the  love  of 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


5o6  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

my  woman's   heart  must  be  enlisted  while  I  lead  these  people 
out  of  the  wilderness  of  error  and  iinrest. 

"You  are  assisting  us  more  than  any  other  mortal  in  making 
for  us  good  conditions.  We  are  glad  when  we  have  a  har- 
monious circle. 

"The  Monday  night  circle  did  us  much  harm — more  than 
words  can  tell  you.  After  this,  avoid  all  such  people.  It  has 
caused  me  much  sorrow,  as  it  has  many  other  spirits.  O 
men  !  when  will  you  learn  that  life  has  a  higher  purpose  than 
the  gratification  of  your  passions?  Let  us  draw  near  you,  and 
tell  you  of  our  homes.  We  will  bring  you  good  news  ;  but 
do  not  ruin  the  work  we  are  trying  to  accomplish. 

"  Josephine." 

Josephine  speaks  of  this  circle  of  Pariahs  with 
commendation  ;  and  yet,  in  contrast,  she  complains  of 
the  one  I  permitted  on  Monday  evening,  which  was 
composed  of  gentlemen  (?),  two  of  whom  are  zealous 
members  of  a  fashionable  Church  on  Ninth  Street. 
It  was  one  of  these  Church  members  who  distinguished 
himself  by  singing  hymns  in  the  circle,  when  his 
breath  was  so  poisoned  by  whisky  that  neither  spirit 
nor  mortal  could  tolerate  his  presence.  But  that 
women  of  the  pave  should  be  esteemed  more  spirit- 
ually developed  than  Church  members  in  good  stand- 
ing, is  the  strangest  part  of  Josephine's  communis 
cation. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  5^7 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

A  DARK  CIRCLE-A  YOUNG  MEDIUM-SPIRIT-FLOWER 
AT  THE  TABLE-A  CIRCLE  OF  FILTH-JOSEPHINE 
SPEAKS  OF  IT— AN  ALARMED  DUTCHMAN— OSTRA- 
CISM-A  CONTRAST-SPIRIT-LIGHTS-PREDICT  I  ON- 
COUNTING  MONEY— PEARLS,  PEARLS— TABLE-LIFT- 
ING-FINAL SITTING-VALEDICTORY  LETTER. 

BEGINNING  on  the  24th  of  April,  and  continuing 
every  evening  thereafter  to  the  1st  of  May,  most 
of  the  phenomena  recorded  in  the  last  two  chapters 
were  reproduced  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Plimpton. 
Some  of  these,  and  others,  he  will  report  in  a  suc- 
ceeding chapter,  to  which  special  reference  will  be 
made  as  I  write  up  my  notes. 

The  book-tests  were  repeated  under  more  strin- 
gent conditions  than  those  I  h^ve  detailed,  as  will  be 
seen  by  Mr.  Plimpton  s  report.  // 

On  the  25 th  of  April,  a  dark  circle  was  frn'med 
by  Isaac  F.  Smith  and  wife.  Master  Walter  Smith, 
Robert  Leslie,  George  W.  Newman,  and  two  other 
gentlemen. 

In  the  presence  of  these  people,  spirit- voices  as- 
sisted in- singing  several  hymns;  after  which,  they 
addressed  each  person  in  the  circle,  and  gave  most 
indubitable  testimony  of  their  identity.  Mr.  Smith 
and  his  family  were  peculiarly  favored  by  the  pres- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


So8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

ence  of  a  number  of  friends,  who  spoke  freely  and 
intelligently  of  his  family  affairs,  and  the  relation 
they  sustained  to  him.  A  spirit  said  that  "  Walter'' 
was  a  medium,  and  that  if  he  would  sit  at  a  table  at 
home,  and  hold  a  slate  under  it,_he  would  get  writing. 
I  have  since  received  messages  from  the  spirits  through 
the  mediumship  of  this  lad,  and  the  ''  watch-test"  and 
"money-counting  test"  were  given  as  promptly  as 
they  were  in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Hollis.  I  predict 
for  this  boy  an  extraordinary  career  as  a  spirit-medium. 
The  spirits  being  interviewed,  during  the  even- 
ing, on  questions  touching  their  personality,  gave 
remarkable  testimony  establishing  their  identity. 
On  the  succeeding  morning,  ih^^seaitce  was  briefly 
commented  upon  as  follows  : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XXV.) 

''My  Dear  Fkiend,— The  circle  last  night  was  good,  \\\- 
I hough  tlie  members  of  it  wanted  more  personal  tests.  It  would 
l)ar(lly  have  satisfied  them  if  their  friends  had  given  tl>e  entire 
liistory  of  their  lives.  One  test  of  an  indisputable  character 
should  be  sufficient  to  convince  a  reasonable  mind;  but  a  score 
wii!  not  suffice. 

"Our  medium  is  too  much  exhausted  \o  write  more  this 
morning.  The  poor  child  has  a  heavy  work  to  do  to-day,  and  I 
fear  she  will  hardly  have  strength  to  do  it.  Josephine." 

•  On  the  26th,  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Plimpton,  the 
drumming  experiment  was  repeated  ;  after  which,  the 
following  transpired  :  The  cloth  at  the  aperture  was 
agitated  and  pushed  aside,  as  if  by  a  puff  of  wind. 
Under  the  table  could  now  be  seen  a  spirit-light, 
which  gradually  grew  more  luminous  and  condensed, 
until  a  beautiful  flower  was  perfectly  materialized. 
When  this  was  comjDleted,  it  was  projected  into  the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  509 

room  far  enough  to  expose  to  view  the  entire  hand  in 
which  the  flower  was  held.  It  remained,  for  closest 
inspection,  half  a  minute,  before  it  was  withdrawn  ; 
but  was  soon  presented  again.  In  the  space  of  fifteen 
minutes,  the  flower  was  presented  nine  times,  aver- 
aging a  half  a  minute  at  each  exposure.  Our  faces 
were  not  more  than  twelve  inches  from  the  flower. 
By  twisting  her  position  a  little,  Mrs.  HoUis  was  en- 
abled to  see  this  materialization,  the  fiist  she  had  ever 
witnessed.  The  size,  shape,  and  color  of  this  flower 
resembled  the  *' hundred-leaf  rose."  The  hand  was 
said  to  be  Mary  Plimpton's. 

After  this,  two  spirit-hands  played  with  the  drum- 
sticks, knotted  a  handkerchief,  rang  a  bell  in  the 
j-oom— not  under  the  table— and  then  left  two  im- 
pressions, one  of  a  large  hand  and  the  other  of  a 
smaller  hand,  in  two  dishes  of  flour. 

A  dark  circle  followed  the  table  manifestations, 
composed  of  six  men,  who  came  begrimed  with  sweat, 
coal-smoke,  oil,  tar,  and  other  abominations,  making  a 
combination  of  odors  so  offensive  that  the  spirits 
quickly  ordered  the  relighting  of  the  gas  and  the  dis- 
persion of  the  ''goodlie  companie."  The  moral  of 
this  failure  is,  that  people  should  be  undefiled  in  their 
habits,  before  entering  a  spirit-room.  And  why  not  t 
Such  men  would  be  ashamed  to  enter  a  fashionable 
church  in  their  filthy  clothes  ;  indeed,  they  would  not 
be  tolerated  in  ''  Christ's"  (.?)  Church,  or  St.  Paul's,  for 
a  single  Sunday,  if  it  were  a  good  day  for  dress. 
Speaking  of  dress,  and  other  matters,  the  following 
letter  was  written  at  the  table,  on  the  morning 
succeeding  the  circle  of  filth. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


510  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XXVI.) 

''My  Dear  Friend,— Saturday  folded  its  mantle  of  dark- 
ness over  a  week  filled  with  anxiety  and  care  to  spirits  and  mor- 
tals alike.  Lights  and  shades  alternated  through  the  week  ;  but 
the  shadows  fell  heaviest  on  our  path. 

"  Another  bright  day  has  opened  its  eyes  in  the  morning  of  a 
new  week.  That  it  may  be  one  of  profit  and  pleasure  to  all,  is  my 
sincere  desire.   May  the  light  for  which  we  so  earnestly  pray,  come! 

"  How  many  there  are  who  do  not  understand  the  true  rela- 
tion which  the  spirit  and  natural  world  sustain  to  each  other! 
nor  do  they  comprehend  the  conditions  which  best  establish  the 
intercourse  of  the  two  worlds.  I  fear  all  I  can  say  on  the 
subject  will  do  but  little  good;  for  but  few  realize  our  actual 
presence,  and  fewer  still  how  much  we  labor  to  give  you  evidence 
of  our  personality. 

"In  view  of  all  the  circumstances  connected  with  spirit  in- 
tercourse, 1  am  surprised  you  get  as  many  spirit  communications 
as  you  do.  There  is  so  much  bigotry  and  prejudice  and  igno- 
rance in  the  world,  that  our  task  to  overcome  them  is  greater 
than  you  can  imagine. 

"If  the  manifestations  we' give  to  Christians  were  given  to 
pagan  savages,  their  truth  would  never  be  questioned.  Here, 
however,  our  messages  are  reviled,  and  our  presence  denied, 
because  they  conflict  with  your  systems  of  theology,  which  have 
no  foundation  in  truth  or  eternal  principles  of  right  and  justice. 
Examine  the  fruits  of  this  theology.  What  has  been  its  effects 
upon  the  world? — upon  society?  It  is  a  fearful  contemplation. 
Every-where  prevail  suspicion,  falsehood,  and  crime.  The 
bonds  of  brotherhood  destroyed,  each  member  of  society  is 
made  the  prey  and  victim  of  the  other.  The  soul  of  a  heathen 
would  shrink  from  doing  his  neighbor  the  wrong  which  these 
enlightened  (?)  people  are  daily  inflicting  upon  their  neighbors. 
Do  not  send  your  missionaries  abroad  to  make  civilizees  of 
savages.  They  have  as  much  humanity  in  their  hearts  as 
Christian  men  and  women,  and  are  happier.  Every-where  there 
is  discontent  among  your  people.  False  education  has  de- 
veloped false  relations  in  living.  Examine  the  principles  upon 
which  society  is  superstructed.  Money  and  Dress  are  your 
twin  deities ;  Avarice  and  Egotism,  their  hand-maids.  What 
becomes  of  the  universal  brotherhood  under  such  teachins:  ? 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  5II 

"But  what  does  all  this  prelude?  Misery!  Soon  you 
will  hear  of  financial  crashes  that  will  strike  terror  to  the  sordid 
soul  of  the  nation.  Bigotry  and  religious  intolerance  is  pre- 
paring for  a  terrible  conflict  with  the  liberal  spirit  of  the  age. 
War— red-handed  war— is  imminent!  The  poor  will  revolt 
against  the  rich,  and  demand  a  division  of  their  ill-goUen  spoils. 
The  discontent  in  your  midst  is  an  evidence  of  wrOng;  and  all 
wrong  is  righted  sooner  or  later.  Light  will  dawn  upon  the 
darke^ned  understandings  of  men,  and  then  the  wrong  perishes. 
The  veil  will  be  rent,  and  light  will  shine  resplendent  from 
the  battlements  of  the  spirit-world. 

"Be  firm!  Spiritualism  has  revealed  the  rottenness  and 
worthlessness  of  creeds.  They  have  been  a  curse  instead  of 
a  blessing  to  mankind.  The  new  dispensation  will  cause  an 
upheaval  of  the  earth,  that  will  shake  the  foundations  of  things. 
Bigotry  and  superstition  will  die!  Truth,  honor,  and  justice 
wifllive  forever!  Josephine." 

A  dark  circle  was  held  on  the  evening  of  the  27th, 
Siuiday,  attended  by  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentle- 
men, whom  I  had  invited  as  my  guests.  These 
people  were  of  different  social  positions,  but  met  on 
the  plane  of  spiritual  development.  The  manifesta- 
tions were  excellent,  all  the  members  of  the  circle 
being  spoken  to  by  one  or  two  or  three  of  their  spirit- 
friends.  Besides,  Jim  Nolan  was  particularly  felicit- 
ous in  his  discourse.  He  reiterated  the  statements 
made  by  "  Ski ;"  namely,  that  the  spirits  knew  not 
only  every  thing  we  do,  but  that  those  who  are  in 
deep  sympathy  with  us  know  our  very  thoughts. 

"Gott  in  himmel!"  said  a  Teuton  present.  "I 
wouldn't  for  a  tousand  dollar,  let  '  Lizabet'  know  what 
I  vas  tinkin  about  last  night  1" 

There  was  in  the  circle  a  son  of  a  presiding  elder 
in  the  Methodist  Church  ;  and  a  distinguished  banker 
of  the  city.     These  two  met   for  the  first  time,  but 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


512  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

they  were  not  friends.  The  sprig  of  elder  held  np 
his  chin,  and  looked  down  on  the  banker.  Now,  the 
banker  never  suspended  ;  therefore,  he  was  honorable. 
He  never  met  his  obligations  with  certified  checks. 
This  ought  to  have  secured  for  him  the  good  opinion 
of  even  the  presiding  elder  himself;  but  it  did  n't  of 
the  son.  So,  on  the  morning  after  the  circle,  the 
following  letter  was  given,  in  which  this  subject  of 
*'I'm  holier  than  thou  !"  was  discussed  in 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XXVII.) 

^'  My  Dear  Friend, — When  we  talk  about  social  ostracism, 
we  attack  one  of  the  strong  props  that  upholds  society,  and 
the  very  corner-stone  of  the  Church  miUtant.  Those  wlio  sus- 
tain the  Church,  and  who  by  the  Church  are  upheld,  draw 
their  robes  about  them,  and  say  to  their  fellow-sinners: 
*I'm  hoher  tlian  tiiou  !  get  thee  out  of  my  pathway!  It  is 
true  you  have  the  same  heritage  to  light  and  life  ;  but  I  can 
not  afford  to  give  you  the  hand  of  fellowship.  My  friends  would 
see  me  do  it !' 

''But  view  tliis  subject  of  social  ostracism  from  a  different 
stand-point,  and  see  how  fraught  with  miscliief  it  is. 

"Here  is  a  woman  of  refinement,  of  noble  and  pure  im- 
.pulses,  and  most  sensitive  nature.  She  values  her  reputation 
beyond  all  price;  and,  for  her  benevolence  and  spotless  charac- 
ter and  blameless  life,  she  is  beloved  by  all  who  share  her 
friendship  and  esteem.  She  could  not  invite  reproach  upon 
herself  or  friends  by  an  uncomely  act  or  thought. 

''To  her  it  Was  said:  'Your  good  friend  and  neighbor  is 
a  spirit-medium  ;  if  you  seek  her  presence,  you  will  hear  the 
voices  again  of  your  loved  and  lost  darlings — those  whose 
eyes  you  closed  when  death  stole  them  from  your  embrace. 
Will  xou  go  to  them  ?' 

"  Her  love  is  strong,  and  the  temptation  is  great.  Perhaps 
she  is  thinking  of  the  face  of  her  mother,  of  whose  voice  she 
dreams,  with  her  eyes  half  closed,  as  the  maitlen  dreams  of 
the  kisses  of  her  lover.  Or,  it  may  be,  the  memory  of  a  dear 
child    has    been    awakened,  whose    soft   breathino^   she  almost 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  5 13 

feels  upon  her  heart.  Does  she  want  to  hear  their  accents 
of  love  again?  O  yes  !  yes  !  yes  !  To  the  world's  end  would 
she  travel  to  hear  their  charming  voices,  and  to  be  assured 
that  they  still  live.  She  yields  to  the  human  impulse,  and 
seeks  the  presence  of  her  darlings.  O  rapture  !  she  hears  them 
speak  again  !  What  inexpressible  bliss  is  this  !  But  now  she 
is  informed  if  she  sits  in  a  dark  room  at  home,  her  loved 
can  and  will  converse  with  her  there,  and  bring  her  messages 
of  joy  from  the  Summer-land. 

"Conceiving  no  guile,  she  conforms  to  the  instructions,  and 
at  last  the  low  whispers  of  her  darlings  are  heard.  O,  what 
pleasure  !  O,  what  happiness  to  untomb  the  lost,  and  hear  them 
speak  of  the  beautiful  world  beyond  !  She  speaks  of  this  marvel- 
ous truth  to  her  associates  and  friends,  expecting  them  to  share 
the  rapture  of  her  own  joy.  But,  alas  !  she  finds  her  friends 
cooling  off,  and  one  by  one  absenting  themselves,  until  the 
painful  conviction  is  forced  upon  her  mind  that  she  is  avoided. 
They  become  reticent,  and  seal  their  lips  in  silence,  until  their 
hearts  become  bitter.  She  is  set  aside,  the  victim  of  social 
ostycicis7/z ! 

'Mt  is  ill  vain  she  asks:  'What  have  I  done  to  offend  my 
friends,  that  they  should  treat  me  thus  ?  Have  I  been  untrue 
to  them  in  act,  word,  or  deed?'  She  droops  as  if  smitten 
with  a  plague  ;  and  after  the  iron  has  entered  her  soul,  she 
rallies  to  the  true  dignity  of  womanly  character,  and  lives  a 
life  free  from  such  intolerance. 

''In  your  circle  last  night  you  had  a  preacher's  son  and 
a  gambler.  The  first  expressed  his  prejudice  against  the  latter, 
on^ account  of  his  profession.  Let  us  look  at  this  matter  from 
a  higher  stand-point.  No  man  is  compelled  to  gamble;  but 
if  he  consents  to  run  his  chances  by  obtaining  money  on  the 
turn  of  a  card,  or  to  lose,  it  is  a  fair  issue  squarely  made.  If 
he  loses,  simply  a  part  or  all  his  money  is  gone  ;  he  must 
struggle  for  more,  and  learn  wisdom.  He  is  not  disabled. 
Avarice  is  his  besetting  sin,  if  it  is  not  amusement. 

"But  how  stands  it  with  the  preacher?  He  has  planted 
errors  in  my  soul,  which  will  require  ages  to  uproot;  he 
has  trammeled  me  with  dogmas,  and  blighted  me  with  creeds, 
which  will  cling  to  me  for  many  years,  until  1   finally  unlearn 

them. 

"Be  governed   in  all   things   by  reason.     Do    not   allow 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


514  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

prejudice  to  poison  the  fountain  of  pure  tliouglit.  The  profes- 
sion of  one  man  may  do  more  harm  to  his  fellows  than  the 
profession  of  another  ;  but  wiiich  is  the  worst  ?  Be  careful  how 
you  decide  !  The  teachers  of  error  are  not  bhimeless  ;  and  as 
to  gambling,  who  among  your  conventional  saints  are  entirely 
exempt  from  it?  'Taking  the  cha'nces  '  is  a  common  maxim 
in  business.  Insurance  policies  on  \\{^  and  property  are  only 
shuffles  and  deals  of  mercenary  gamblers. 

"It  will  not  do  to  condemn  hastily.  While  I  do  not  desire 
to  offer  any  apology  for  wrong-doing,  still  it  is  only  justice 
to  say,  that  the  gambler  frequently  is  no  worse  than  those  who 
condemn  him  to  social  ostracism.  Josephine." 

On  the  28th  of  April,  Mr.  Plimpton,  after  making 
a  careful  examination  of  the  table  that  he  might  be 
able  to  assure  the  public  he  had  neglected  no  means 
to  discover  fraud,  that  was  proper  to  be  employed 
upon  the  occasion,  proceeded  with  the  ''box-test," 
the  particulars  of  which  he^has  reported  in  the  next 
chapter.  In  referring  to  this  box-test,  Jim  Nolan 
said  it  required  the  united  efforts  of  Ski"  and  him- 
self to  make  it  a  success. 

The  next  manifestations  at  the  table  were  spirit- 
lights.  The  light  in  the  room  was  shaded  down  a 
trifle,  and  the  cloth  covering  the  aperture  held  up, 
giving  an  uninterrupted  view  into  the  black  opening. 
I  thought  to  improve  my  facilities  for  seeing,  and 
proposed  to  change  my  position.  I  was  at  once  told, 
that  to  do  this  would  change  their  batteries,  and 
defeat  their  purpose. 

I  remained  quiet ;  and  it  was  only  a  few  minutes 
after,  when  the  dark  hole,  into  which  we  were  peering, 
became  illuminated  by  floating  dots  of  light.  I  should 
think  there  were  twenty  of  them  visible  at  one  time. 
Those  mos    remote  from  the  aperture  were  the  most 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  5  I  5 

brilliant,  as  that  part  of  the  chamber  was  darkest. 
They  were  about  the  size  of  house-flies  ;  and  if  you 
will  fancy  these  pests  lumineus,  flying  about  in  a  dark 
room,  you  will  have  a  fair  conception  of  these  myste- 
rious pyrotechnics.  By  a  close  inspection,  these  lights 
were  seen  to  rest  on  the  tip-ends  of  fingers.  In  some 
instances,  the  whole  hand  could  be  seen,  though  very 
obscurely.  As  these  lights  came  quite  out  of  the 
aperture,  I  placed  my  hand  favorably  for  having  it 
touched  by  them.  This  they  did  several  times,  and 
'  would  instantly  expire,  as  a  spark  when  dropped  in 
water.  After  several  repetitions  of  this  kind,  the 
lights  went  out ;  my  hand  acting,  I  suppose,  as  a  '*  wet 
blanket"  on  their  illuminating  power. 

After  this,  the  spirits  again  brushed  my  hair,  that 
Mr.  Plimpton  might  see  the  operation,  and  my  ''vener- 
able locks  "  looked  the  better  for  it.     Jim  then  grasped 
me  cordially  by  the  hand,  in  the  lighted  room,  and  next 
patted  the  back  of  Mr.  Plimpton's  hand  caressingly  ; 
after  which,  still  in  the  light,  he  wrote, — ■ 
"James." 
That  concluded  the  seance  for  the  evening. 
On  the  morning  following,  I  asked  if  there  was  to 
be  a  letter  for  me  ;  when  this  was  written  : 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XXVIII.) 

''  My  Dear  Friend, — I  am  always  glad  to  write  to  you,  and 
anticipate  the  morning  lesson  (as  you  are  pleased  to  call  it)  with 
pleasure. 

"  Several  days  ago,  in  my  letter,  I  made  allusion  to  the  com- 
ing conflict.  Tiie  spiril-world  is  bringing  that  about.  The 
truth  of  spirit-intercourse  will  soon  be  generally  understood; 
and  as  the  people  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  facts  of  spirit-life, 
they  will  cease  to  be  influenced  by  the  romanticisms  of  priests. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


5l6  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Faith  will  cease  to  lead  tlieni,  wlien  they  have  positive  knowl- 
edge to  guide.  The  attempt  will  then  be  made  to  sustain  the 
Churches  by  invoking  legislative  action  to  coerce  the  people  to 
adopt  their  spuiious  system  of  morality.  This  will  bring  on  the 
conflict.  The  blows  of  revolt  will  fnll  upon  every  household. 
The  issue  will  be  sanguinary  and  doubtful  for  a  time  ;  but  the 
spirit-hosts,  arrayed  upon  the  side  of  right,  will  oppose  wrong  to 
the  bitter  end,  and  triumph  at  the  last.  I  contemplate  this 
struggle  in  sadness  ;  still,  when  I  look  at  the  grand  results,  I 
feel  that  it  is  right  that  it  should  come. 

"The  experiments  last  night  were  quite  successful;  others 
will  follow,  quite  as  interesting  in  character,  before  the  medium 
leaves  for  home. 

'■  I  have  been  looking  over  the  manuscript  of  your  book.  I 
like  your  direct  method  of  stating  things.  Much  has  been  writ- 
ten on  the  subject  of  spiritualism  ;  but  plain  facts  tell  the  best 
story.  The  truth  should  be  told  with  as  little  adornment  of 
words  as  possible.  Present  it  to  the  mind's  eye  as  naked  as 
you  can.  Josephine.", 

Mrs.  Hollls  sat  by  the  table  for  manifestations,  in 
the  evening  twilight  of  the  29th  of  April  ;  when,  after 
some  desultory  conversation,  I  placed  a  roll  of  bank- 
bills  on  the  chair,  and  requested  the  spirits  to  tell  the 
exact  amount  it  contained.  The  roll  was  soon  taken 
under  the  table,  and,  after  several  minutes,  was  again 
produced  upon  the  chair.  The  slate  was  at  the  same 
time  rapped  upon  and  withdrawn,  on  which  was 
written  : 

Five  twenty-dollar  bills,         .        ,         ,         .         .  ^loo  00 

Fifteen  ten-dollar  bills, 150  oo        . 

Twenty-two  five-dollar  bills,          .         .         .         .  no  00 

Four  two-dollar  bills,         .         .         .         .         .         =  8  00 

Three  one-dollar  bills,  .         .         .         .         .         .  3  00 


fe7i  00 

This  statement   was  entirely  accurate,  though   I 
had  no  knowledge  of  the  amount  of  money  in  the  roll 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  5  1 7 

until  it  was  thus  given.  The  remark  was  made  that 
the  spirits  had  a  favorable  opportunity  for  discounting 
if  they  felt  like  doing  a  banking  business.  To  which 
Jim  quickly  replied  on  the  slate  : 

''  Money  is  valueless  here.  The  distinctions  which 
wealth  creates  among  men  cease  at  death.  They 
have  no  existence  in  the  spirit-world." 

''  Yes/'  I  said  ;  ''  I  suppose  the  rich  and  poor  meet 
on  a  common  level." 

''  Not  so,"  said  Jim,  ''  wisdom  creates  distinctions  ; 
but  your  rich  men  do  not  have  a  monopoly  of  this 
spirit-wealth.  The  reason  is,  money  can  not  purchase 
it.  The  humblest  in  life  may  have  the  greatest 
abundance  of  it,  and  thus  become  the  most  exalted  in- 
the  conclaves  of  the  goodly  great  and  greatly  good. 
It  is  a  rare  gem,  to  be  compassed  only  through  trials, 
suffering,  and  death.  It  pays  no  tribute  to  wealth, 
no  homage  at  the  shrine  of  error." 

After  this  writing,  no  manifestations  occurred  for 
a  quarter  of  an  hour.  There  was  not  even  a  rap,  to 
announce  the  presence  of  a  spirit  Finally,  the  cloth 
at  the  aperture  began  to  puff  out,  as  if  blown  upon  by 
some  person  under  the  table.  After  several  spells  of 
this  kind,  I  lifted  the  cloth,  which  gave  an  uninter- 
rupted view  of  the  interior  of  the  dark  chamber.  I 
had  scarcely  fastened  the  cloth  on  the  top  of  the  table, 
when  a  dim,  shadowy  substance  appeared  at,  and 
seemed  to  fill,  the  entire  aperture.  I  could  not  dis- 
tinguish what  it  was.  It  retired  from  the  aperture, 
and  in  a  minute  or  two  reappeared  ;  but  this  tuTie 
more  clearly  defined.  I  could  now  see  it  was  a  spirit- 
hand,   with    the    palm    surface    upturned;    and    the 

46 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Sl8  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

fingers  were  festooned  with  strings  of  pearls,  several 
inches  in  length.  In  the  hand  lay  the  medallion  like- 
ness of  Napoleon.  It  was  the  ornament  I  had  seen 
at  the  cabinet,  a  dozen  times,  on  Josephine's  neck. 
The  hand  moved  back  and  forth  several  times,  giving  a 
corresponding  motion  to  the  pendent  pearls.  I  placed 
the  palm  of  my  hand  on  the  chair,  when  these  strands 
were  drawn  gently  over  the  back  of  it,  once  or  twice. 
I  then  turned  it,  and  formed  a  cup  of  the  palm,  into 
which  the  mass  of  pearls  was  laid,  for  a  moment,  and 
then  taken  under  the  table.  I  requested  they  should 
be  laid  in  Mr.  Plimpton's  hand;  but  the  experiment 
was  at  an  end. 

There  was  an  appreciable  weight  in  these  spirit- 
jewels  :  so  at  least  I  thought  at  the  time  ;  but  since 
then  I  have  almost  persuaded  myself  that  it  was  tlie 
conscious  touch  that  gave  me  the  impression.  If  I 
had  not  been  looking  or  expecting  the  touch  at  the 
time,  would  I  have  recognized  it  as  I  did  }  On  the 
subject  of  weight  and  touch,  I  am  not  certain  ;  but 
the  sense  of  seeing  accurately  is  confirmed  by  the 
concurrent  testimony  of  Mrs.  Hollis  and  Mr.  Plimpton, 

The  pearls  were  of  varied  sizes,  and  seemed  in 
this  particular  to  be  graded— the  largest  at  the  bottom 
of  the  strands,  the  smallest  at  the  top.  I  noticed  this 
more  particularly  when  they  were  worn  on  Joseph- 
ine's neck.  In  the  aggregate,  there  were  enough  of 
them  to  fill  two-thirds  of  an  ordinary-sized  tea-cup  ; 
the  cup  of  my  hand  was  quite  full.  After  this  ex- 
traordinary manifestation,  Nolan  projected  his  hand, 
and  fore-arm  through  the  opening,  and  picked  up  a  pair 
of  scissors  and  a  sheet  of  white  paper  from  the  chair, 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  5  10 

and  carried  them  under  the  table.  In  a  minute,  the 
scissors  were  replaced,  and  the  paper  was  handed  out. 
It  had  been  cut  in  a  heart-shape,  and,  by  the  folds 
of  the  paper,  there  were  four  of  these  formed.  No 
less  than  two  hands  could  have  executed  this  simple 

■  feat. 

I  now  set  the  heavy  music-box  on  the  table,  and 
began  winding  it.  While  I  was  doing  this,  the  table 
and  superadded  weight,  including  the  box,  being  more 
than  twenty  pounds,  were  lifted  several  times,  a  foot  or 
more,  from  the  floor.     This  closed  the  seance. 

Mr.  Plimpton  and  myself  subsequently  placed 
ourselves  in  Mrs.  Hollis's  position  at  the  table,  and 
tried  to  lift  it,  as  it  had  been  lifted;  but  neither 
of  us  was  equal  to  the  task.  I  strained  the  tendons 
of  my  arm  so  badly  in  the  effort,  that  I  did  not 
recover   its    comfortable    use    again    for   as    much  as 

a  week. 

On  the  evening  of  the  30th  of  April,  Mr.  Plimp- 
ton and  myself  had  our  final  sitting  for  table  mani- 
festations with  Mrs.  Hollis.  We  had  resumed  our 
usual  positions  but  a  few  minutes,  when  a  spirit-hand 
was  projected,  waving  a  spirit-handkerchief  several 
times,  only  a  few  inches  from  our  faces.  It  stopped, 
giving  us  ample  time  to  examine  both  the  hand  and 
delicate  texture  of  the  fabric,  before  it  retired.  This 
materialization  appeared  a  second  time,  when,  by  re- 
quest, the  cobzvehby  material  was  drawn  over  my  hand 
twice,  after  which  it  was  withdrawn.  I  had  seen  this 
spirit-handkerchief  exhibited  at  the  cabinet  aperture 
several  times,  but  never  before  was  I  sufficiently  near 
to  give  it  such  a  close  inspection. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


S20  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

The  hand  and  arm  were  again  presented  ;  but  this 
time  the  arm  to  the  elbow  was  clad  with  a  sleeve 
of  white  tulle.  The  arm  flexed  and  extended  several 
times,  and  then  disappeared. 

A  smaller  hand  and  arm  were  next  presented, 
dressed  with  a  full  flowing  white  illusion  sleeve. 
This  was  said  to  belong  to  Mr.  Plimpton's  sister 
Mary.  The  hand  projected  toward  Mr.  Plimpton, 
who,  extending  his  own,  had  it  caressed  for  half  a 
minute.  He  then  presented  a  cluster  of  apple-blos- 
soms to  the  spirit,  which  were  received  with  demon- 
strations of  pleasure,  and  carried  under  the  table. 
Here  it  was  written  on  the  slate,  that 

"  The  beauty  and  fragrance  of  my  favorite  blossoms  give  me 
.  no  less  pleasure  now  than  when  I  enjoyed  them  in  life. 

"Mary." 

The  blossoms  were  then  distributed  between  Mr. 
Plimpton,  Mrs.  Hollis,  and  myself,  each  receiving  our 
tiny  bouquet  from  the  hand  of  the  spirit.  The  hand 
then  waved  us  an  adieu  ;  and,  while  doing  so,  the  slate 
zvas  projected  by  another  hand,  upon  zvhich  zvere  writ- 
ten,  in  yim  Nolans  charactef^s,  the  zvords,  "Good-bye  !" 

This  closed  the  series  of  table  seances,  whereat 
had  been  manifested  the  most  interesting  phenomena 
it  has  been  my  privilege  to  witness.  It  is  not  deemed 
necessary  to  make  special  comments  upon  these  mani- 
festations. The  reader,  no  doubt,  has  scrutinized 
the  record  I  have  made  of  them,  closely.  I  strung 
my  philosophy  and  facts  together,  in  the  narrative 
which  is  now  closed. 

On  the  following  morning,  May  ist,  Josephine's 
valedictory  letter  was  written.     Here  it  is  : 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  S  2 1 

(JOSEPHINE'S  LETTERS,  No.  XXIX.) 

*'  My  Dear  Friend, — Again  our  channel  of  communication 
wilb  you  is  to  be  interrupted.  I  am  sorry  for  tiiis  !  It  has  been 
a  pleasure  and  a  profit  to  us  to  be  here.  We  feel  grateful  for 
the  favorable  conditions  you  have  given  us,  and  owe  you  many 
thanks. 

"This  subject  of  conditions  must  be  better  understood  by 
those  who  desire  to  have  reliable  communications  with  the 
spirit-world.  People  of  tender  minds  get  'shaky'  when  you 
speak  to  them  of  conditions,  and  become  very  suspicious  that 
some  cunningly  contrived  macliinery  lies  hidden  in  its  meaning. 
If  not  frightened,  they  become  uncivil,  and  treat  us  as  though 
we  were  personal  enemies  to  our  fellow-mortals,  instead  of  being 
the  messengers  of  'glad  tidings'  to  the  race.  When  a  mother 
comes  to  speak  to  her  child  in  loving  accents,  she  is  rudely  re- 
pulsed, or  treated  with  so  much  discourtesy  that  she  retires  in 
confusion  and  humiliation.  I  have  listened  to  people  talking, 
who,  by  their  unwarranted  rudeness,  insensibly  mystified  their 
spiri't-friends,  until  they  retired  in  confusion.  Again,  I  have 
seen  the  happy,  heart-felt  joy  of  those  who  were  assured  that 
their  memories  were  still  cherished  by  their  friends  on  earth, 
who  listened  to  their  tiniest  rap  or  faintest  whisper  with  love 
and  respect. 

"O  friends  !  understand  the  importance  of  'conditions.'  Do 
not  sneer  at  the  word  ;  it  is  the  best  we  can  employ  to  express 
our  meaning.  Before  you  ask  us  to  substitute  another  word,  try 
to  understand  and  illustrate  the  signification  of  this  one.  Give 
us  better  conditions,  then  we  will  come  nearer  to  you,  and  tell 
you  of  our  lives  and  homes  in  the  spirit-world.  Surely  you  need 
information  of  this  character,  and  should  put  yourself  to  some 
pains  to  obtain  it. 

"  Last  night  we  were  able  to  give  you  some  pleasant  mani- 
festations at  the  table.  These  will  excite  a  deep  interest  in  the 
public  mind.  Your  book  would  have  been  incomplete  without 
containing  a  notice  of  them.  The  people  are  starving  for  this 
kind  of  testimony,  which  demonstrates  to  their  senses  the 
actuality  of  the  spirit-world. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  friend,  I  can  only  say  my  soul  is  filled 
with  gratitude  for  the  service  you  have  rendered  me.     Good-bye. 

"  Josephine." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


522  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

MR.  PLIMPTON'S  SECOND  REPORT— THE  MEDIUM— OB- 
JECT IN  VIEW— THE  NEEDLE-TESr— THE  WATCH- 
TEST— THE  BOOK-TEST— TWO  PIANDS  IN  FLOUR— 
THE  BOX-TEST— THE  HAND— MISCELLANEOUS. 

WHEN  Mr.  Plimpton  made  his  first  report  of 
his  experiences  with  spirit-phenomena,  he  had 
not  seen  enough  to  produce  solid  convictions  that  the 
manifestations  were  really  what  they  purported  to  be. 
Since  then,  he  has  been  a  welcome  visitor  to  my 
house,  and  has  availed  himself  of  the  privilege  to 
come  and  go  at  pleasure,  that  he  could  the  better 
satisfy  his  mind  of  the  genuine  character  of  these 
**  startling  facts  in  modern  spiritualism."  After  hav- 
ing such  facilities  for  several  months,  he  has  deemed 
it  proper  to  supplement  his  first  report  by  a  second, 
which  was  printed  in  Colonel  Donn  Piatt's  paper, 
The  Capital^  published  at  Washington,  from  which  I 
transfer  it  to  these  pages.  The  article  is  carefully 
and  ably  written,  and  will  command  respectful  atten- 
tion from  all  thinking  readers.  Colonel  Piatt  edito- 
rially prefaced  the  article  by  saying: 

"  We  publish  to-day  an  interesting  article  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  F, 
B.  Plimpton,  associate  editor  of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial.  Mr. 
Plimpton  is  one  of  the  ablest  journalists  in  the  United  States,  and 
we  can  vouch — as  a  wide  circle  of  friends  among  the  best  people  can 
vouch — for  his  sincerity  and  truthfulness.  Our  readers  will  find  his 
investigations  remarkable,  and  well  worth  a  study." 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  $^3 

HALF-HOURS  WITH    SPIRITS. 

A   SERIES   OF  TEST   EXPERIMENTS. 

BY  F.  B.  PLIMPTON. 

Cincinnati,  M?i/ 8,  1873. 

My  Dear  Colonel,— In  a  some-time  unanswered  letter, 
you  incidentally  inquire  of  me  what  progress  I  have  made  in 
the  investigation  of  tlie  so-called  spiritual  manifestations.  I 
am  now  prepared  to  reply. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  seances  given  in  the  Autumn  of 
1872,  througli  the  mediumship  of  Mrs.  Mary  J.  HoUis,  of  Louis- 
ville, at  the  house  of  Dr.  N.  B.  Wolfe,  in  this  city— several  of 
winch  I  had  the  pleasure  of  attending  with  yourself  and  the 
Hon.  William  M.  Corry— I  gave  over  the  investigations,  de- 
termined, however,  should  opportunity  offer,  to  renew  them. 

I  had  seen  enough  to  convince  a  reasonable  mind  that  the 
manifestations  were  not  the  result  of  trickery  or  imposture. 
They  were  given  under  conditions  n.ot  so  satisfactory  as  one 
could  desiret  and  yet  so  good  as  to  lake  them  beyond  the 
possibilities  of  mere  mechanical  contrivance  and  physical 
adroitness. 

No  one  could  accuse  the  medium  of  imposture,  having  seen 
and  heard,  these  things,  without  impeaching  the  evidence  of 
his  senses,  or  convicting  his  own  conscience  of  bearing  false 
witness  against  his  neighbor.  The  facts  were  indisputable: 
there  were  the  slate-writings,  the  voices  in  the  dark  circle, 
the  materializations  at  the  cabinet,  heard  and  seen  by  every  one 
present,  and  alike  testified  to  by  their  faculties.  There  could 
have  been  no  fraud,  there  was  no  collusion;  was  tliere  illusion 
or  delusion  ? 

I  was  not  entirely  satisfied  that  the  phenomena  witnessed 
might  not  be  explained  upon  some  other  hypothesis  than  that 
of  their  spiritual  origin;  and  while  I  bore  cheerful  testimony 
to  the  things  seen  and  heard,  conscious  that  they  had  taken 
place,  and  were  described  by  myself  with  more  scrupulous 
faithfulness  than  any  report  1  had  ever  made  of  a  public  event, 
1  was  not  prepared  lo  express  an  opinion  that  further  investi- 
gation might  make  it  necessary  to  modify. 

Faith  in  the  occult  and  mysterious  has  been  with  me  a  plant 
of  slow  growth;   but    I    lack   the    confidence  of   Mr.  Herbert 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


524  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Spencer,  to  assume  to  settle  such  questions  on  rt; /r/^r/ grounds, 
or  to  announce  a  thing  to  be  impossible  because  it  has  not  come 
within  the  range  of  my  own  experience.  And  then  the  saying, 
that  the  impossible  is  always  coming  to  pass,  should  qualify  our 
positiveness. 

Professor  Faraday's  theory  of  involuntary  muscular  action 
may  have  explained  satisfactorily  to  him  such  so-called  spiritual 
i^henomena  as  he  witnessed  ;  but  here  was  a  class  of  facts  or 
manifestations  as  much  beyond  those  he  had  seen  as  his 
experiments  in  electricity  were  beyond  the  wildest  conception 
of  Friar  Bacon.  Professor  Carpenter's  theory  of  unconscious 
cerebation  seemed  to  offer  a  better  solution  of  the  problems. 
If  to  the  unconscious  working  of  the  brain  could  be  added  the 
power  of  clear-seeing  as  a  mental  faculty  developed  in  pe- 
culiarly organized  natures,  as  in  the  well-attested  case  of 
Zschokke,  the  eminent  German  writer  and  historian,  it  seemed 
to  me  a  large  number  of  the  manifestations  might  be  accounted 
for  without  the  aid  of  an  unknown  quantity. 

As  you  have,  in  your  own  happy  manner,  described  the 
three  modes  of  manifestation  through  Mrs.  HoUis,  by  writing, 
speaking,  and  materialization  of  forms,  I  will  not  weary  your 
readers  with  repetition  of  description.  Marvelous  as  tliey  are, 
they  have  been  so  often  described  and  witnessed  by  thousands 
of  people  that  I  am  sure  you  will  pardon  me  if  I  pass  to  other 
matters. 

During  the  Winter  months  I  was  at  some  pains  to  inform 
myself  of  the  character  and  standing  of  Mrs.  Hollis  in  the  city 
of  her  home  ;  and,  saving  her  reputation  as  a  medium,  I  have 
yet  to  hear  any  thing  prejudicial  to  the  lady,  or  to  which  even 
the  ''unco'  gude  "  could  except.  The  mother  of  a  family,  her 
life  has  been  devoted  to  domestic  duties.  Her  husband  is  a 
gentlemen  well  known  among  business  men.  Both  are  as 
sensitive  to  their  own  and  their  family  reputations  as  the  most 
refined  people  of  society  elsewhere.  I  have  found  Mrs.  Hollis 
at  all  times  a  modest,  rather  retiring  lady, '  possessed  of  no 
remarkable  intellectual  powers,  in  speech  and  action  candid 
and  sincere,  and  having  absolute  confidence  in  the  verity  of  the 
manifestations  made  through  her  agency. 

Here,  then,  is  a  woman  whose  whole  life  is  a  protest  against 
the  presumption  of  fraud  and  trickery,  and  who  is  so  physically 
organized  as  still  further  to  convince  one  of  her  inability  to 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  $2$ 

perform  tricks,  if  sucli  they  were,  more  marvelous  than  any 
recorded  of  Hermann  or  Hondin.  I  have  seen  many  prestidigi- 
tators and  jugglers,  as  well  in  the  Old  as  in  the  New  World, 
but  none  of  thenl  had  her  phlegmatic  temperament  and  almost 
clumsiness  of  motion.  During  her  sittings  she  is  quiet,  and 
apparently  entirely  passive  to  tlie  influence  controlling  her. 

Of  Dr.  Wolfe  himself,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  he  is  a 
very  positive  and  earnest  spiritualist.  He  has  given  the  sub- 
ject careful  investigation  during  twenty  years  past^  travehng 
thousands  of  miles  to  investigate  with  mediums  of  celebrity. 
He  has  given  up  his  pleasant  home  for  weeks,  during  the  past 
two  years,  to  those  who  have  thronged  it,  seeking  evidence 
of  the  truth  of  spiritualism.  He  has  submitted  to  suspicions 
and  assumptions  of  fraud  on  his  own  part,  sure  that  he  was 
neither  deceived  nor  deceiving,  and  that  he  would  b^'^  ultimately 
vindicated  even  in  the  opinions  of  those  who  had  entertained 
doubts  of  his  honesty.  He  has  invited  investigation,  prefer- 
ring the  skeptic  to  the  believer,  and  asking  only  to  be  credited 
with  the  same  honesty  of  purpose  that  others  claimed  for 
themselves. 

It  seemed  to  me,  in  making  a  series  of  test  experiments, 
that  it  was  most  desirable  to  reduce  the  chances  of  fraud  or 
imposture,  and  to  proceed  with  them  as  though  convinced  that 
the  medium  and  Dr.  Wolfe,  in  whose  presence  they  were  given, 
were  confederated  to  practice  deception.  Two  objects  were 
then  to  be  sought  for, — material  evidence  of  the  existence 
and  presence  of  intelligence  apart  from  our  own,  and  proof 
of  their  capacity  to  act  independent  of  any  thoughts  or-im- 
pressions  in  our  own  minds.  Should  conditions  be  imposed, 
making  the  proof  inconclusive  on  these  two  points,  I  deter- 
mined to  abandon  all  further  investigations,  and,  for  my  own 
part,  remit  spiritualism  to  the  limbo  in  which  the  ghosts  of 
many  delusions  wander  unregretted. 

It  is  to  these  tests  I  now  propose  to  invite  your  attention. 
They  were  given  in  a  chamber-room,  over  the  parlor,  in  Dr. 
Wolfe's  house.  No  trap-door  could  be  made  available.  The 
floor  was  covered  with  elegant  tapestry,  and  showed  that  it  had 
not  been  disturbed,  the  breadths  extending  across  the  room  be- 
ing intact.  The  furniture  consisted  of  a  bed,  bureau,  wash-stand, 
and  chairs,  and  a  small  toilet-stand  in  the  center  of  the  room, 
without  drawers  in  it,  and  so  light  that  a  child  could  pick  it  up 

47 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


526 


STARTLING  PACTS  IN 


and  carry  it  with  ease.  There  was  no  place  for  the  conceahnent 
of  a  confederate,  and  but  one  door  by  which  he  could  pass  into 
or  out  of  the  room.  Moreover,  unless  physically  as  dwarfed  as 
Tom  Thumb  or  Commodore  Nutt,  he  could  riot  have  crowded 
under  the  stand,  supposing  him  to  have  got  there  without  de- 
tection. During  all  these  experiments  the  gas  was  turned  on  ; 
and  this,  added  to  the  brightly  blazing  coal-fire  on  the  grate, 
made  the  room  bright  and  cheerful  in  every  corner.  Only 
once  were  we  requested  to  lower  the  gas,  as  will  be  noticed 
liereafter. 

A  strip  of  black  muslin,  reaching  half-way  to  the  floor,  had 
been  fastened  round  the  ^^g<Q.  of  the  stand,  the  two  ends  of 
which  met,  and  could  be  parted  like  the  curtains  of  a  tent. 
Over  this  was  thrown  a  dark  plaid  shawl,  falling  to  the  floor  on 
all  sides,  a?id  making  darkness  absolute  in  the  small  space  un- 
der the  stand.  This  was  the  only  condition  imposed.  A  rude 
diagram  may  assist,  better  than  any  description  I  can  give  in 
words,  in  showing  the  location  and  appointments  of  the  room, 
the  position  of  the  table  and  the  parties  seated  around  it. 


South  Wall. 


North  Wall. 


A,  The  table  under  which  the  materializations  were  formed.  B.  Mrs.  Hollis's 
position  at  the  table;  she  facing  south.  C  'i'he  chair  under  the  opening  in  the  val- 
ance. D.  My  chair.  E.  Dr.  Wolfe's  position.  F.  Doorway  from  the  hall  to  the 
rooni.  G.  A  bureau  and  pivoted  mirror.  H  H.  Plastered  wardrobes.  I.  Window 
opening  south.  J.  Fire-place.  L.  Window  opening  to  conservatory.  M.  Conserva- 
tory. N.  Doorway  from  hall.  O.  Bed.  P  P  P.  Hall.  R.  First  flight  of  stairs, 
SS.  Second  flight  of  stairs  to  third  floor.    T.  Entrance  to  front  chamber. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  527 

The  door  opening  into  the  hall-way  was  near  C,  my  own 
chair  partly  obstructing  the  passage.  Mrs.  Hollis  sat  with  her 
back  to  the  door,  and  fronting  the  fire-place.  The  ends  of  the 
black  muslin  strip/fastened  round  the  top  of  the  stand,  met  at 
C,  where  the  materializations  took  place.  The  unoccupied  chair 
was  used  to  place  articles  upon  during  the  experiments,  as  will 
be  further  explained. 

It  will  be  observed,  from  Mrs.  HoUis's  position,  that  her 
right-hand  was  nearest  the  table  ;  the  left  was  placed  upon  it, 
and,  at  our  request,  she  never  withdre^v  it  ditring  an  experiinent. 
It  was  always  in  sight,  and  above  the  stand.  She  had,  there- 
fore, only  the  right-hand  with  which  to  perform  the  ^'tricks,"  if 
they  were  of  her  doing.  Of  the  probabihty  of  this,  the  reader 
must  judge  at  the  conclusion.  This,  then,  was  the  position  of 
the  three  parties  in  the  room— certainly,  absolutely,  the  only 
ones  present  during  the  tests.  No  motion  could  have  been 
made  without  being  seen. 

A  full  spool  of  No.  80  Coates's  thread,  and  a  paper  of  needles, 
No.  5  English  make,  containing  twenty-five  needles,  was  placed 
on  the  chair  at  C.  Immediately,  a  well-defined  hand  reached 
out  from  under  the  stand,  and  drew  them  successively  in. 
After  a  few  moments,  the  paper  of  needles  was  placed  outside, 
followed  by  the  spool  of  thread.  We  found  four  of  the  needles 
missing,  and  a  thread  taken  from  the  spool.  .  We  had  scarcely 
examined  these,  when  the  thread  reappeared,  with  the  four 
needles  suspended  on  the  thread,  the  ends  of  which  had  been 
knotted,  as  a  seamstress  would  do  it.'  We  compared  the  needles 
with  those  on  the  paper;  they  matched  for  size.  The  thread 
upon  which  they  were  strung  matched  for  qualit}^,  and  filled  the 
place  exactly  upon  the  spool  This  feat  had  been  performed,  it 
was  alleged,  under  the  table,  and  in  total  darkness. 

Mrs.  Hollis  could  not  have  done  it  had  both  hands  been  at 
libert}^,  and  I  doubt  whether  either  Dr.  Wolfe  or  myself  could 
have  threaded  them  in  daylight,  for  men  are  proverbially  bun- 
glers at  such  work.  Still,  this  test  was  not  conclusive.  There 
might  have  been  substitution  of  thread  and  needles,  though  we 
had  ourselves  no  doubt  of  the  identity  of  the  spool  and  the 
paper  with  those  which  had  been  laid  on  the  chair.  A  more 
extraordinary  test  followed. 

Taking  a  stem- winding  hunter-case  watch,  and  pressing  upon 
the  spring  near  the  stem,  the  hands  were  turned  backward  and 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


528  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

forward  indifferently.  Who  could  have  guessed  the  time  ? 
The  watch  was  placed  on  the  chair,  and  taken  under  the  stand  ; 
the  request  being  tluit  the  time  indicated  on  its  dial  should  be 
written  on  the  slate  which  Mrs.  HolHs  held.  After  a  few  min- 
utes, tlie  watch  was  handed  out,  closed  as  when  it  was  taken,  and 
the  sound  of  the  pencil  scratching  on  the  slate  was  heard.  I 
noted  by  another  watch  the  time  occupied  from  the  handing  out 
of  the  watch  to  the  announcement  on  the  slate,  which  was 
"twenty  minutes  to  one.'^  Opening  tlie  watch,  and  allowing  for 
the  time  that  had  elapsed,  this  was  accurate  to  a  s.econd. 
There  could  have  been  no  sul^stitution  in  this  case,  for  the 
watch  had  marks  of  identity  not  to  be  mistaken.  He  would 
have  been  a  smart  confederate  who  could  have  read  the  time 
from  its  dial-plate  in  total  darkness.  How,  then,  was  it  done.? 
By  the  unconscious  cerebration  of  the  medium  ?  Did  this  mys- 
terious mental  emanation  or  agency  take  the  shape  of  a  band  to 
touch,  to  handle,  and  to  write,  and,,  penetiating  through  the 
case,  read  the  time  which  the  hands  indicated  t  Or  was  there 
some  inexplicable  illusion  by  which  we  were  made  to  see  that 
which  had  no  existence?  The  reader  is  welcome  to  unriddle 
the  riddle. 

Could  the  spirits  copy  from  a  book  a  word  or  a  sentence, 
writing  it  on  the  slate  whicli  the  medium  held  under  the  table? 
By  slight  taps  on  the  slate,  with  the  pencil,  they  indicated  their 
willingness  to  try.  To  make  sure  tliat  the  book  would  be  one 
unknown  to  the  persons  present,  I  took  with  me  a  book  just  re- 
ceived from  the  publishers,  the  wrapper  of  whicli  was  unbroken. 
On  the  outside  of  the  wrapper  it  was  directed,  ''To  the  Editor 
of  the  Coinmercial,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Care  of,  and  for  sale  by, 
George  E.  Stephens  &  Co.  With  the  compliments  of  the  pub- 
lishers. William  Wood  &  Co.,  Publishers,  27  Great  Jones 
Street,  New  York."  Nothing  to  indicate  the  title  or  character. 
This  bo6k,  the  wrapper  unbroken,  and  the  twine  stifl  tied  around 
it,  as  it  had  come  from  the  publishing-house.  I  laid  upon  the 
chair  at  C.  Presently  a  hand  reached  out  through  the  curtain 
and  took  hold  of  it,  and,  tr3ing  first  to  draw  it  under  flatwise,  but 
finding  the  legs  of  tlie  stand  too  close  together,  turned  it  on  its 
^AgQ.  It  disappeared.  Then  the  string  and  the  wrapper  were 
handed  out,  the  latter  turned  inside  out,  as  though  peeled  off. 
I  watched  closely  Mrs.  Hollis's  right-arm,  her  left-hand  being 
on  the   table,  while   the   wrapper,  the    crumpling  of  which  we 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  529 

could  distinctly  hear,  was  being  taken  off.  Not  a  muscle  moved. 
We  could  bear  the  turning  of  the  leaves  ;  and,  soon  after,  the 
scratching  of  the  pencil  on  the  slate  was  audible.  Then  the 
book  was  put  out,  and  dropped  on  the  chair  at  C.  1  took  it 
without  opening  it.  Next  came  the  slate,  which  was  handed  to 
Dr.  Wolfe,  who,  stepping  to  the  gas-hght,  read:  "Page  20. 
Branches  taught."  I  opened  the  book  to  the  page  indicated. 
At  the  third  line  from  the  top  were  the  words— the  small-capital 
side-heading  of  a  paragraph.  An  examinadon  of  the  title-page 
of  the  book  showed  it  to  be  "The  Educational  Year-book  for 
1873."  The  slate  upon  which  this  and  all  subsequent  writing 
in  my  presence  was  done,  was  one  1  had  purchased  on  my 
way  to  Dr.  Wolfe's,  and  had  privately  marked. 

And  here  was  a  test  that  involved  both  physical  and  mental 
operations.  Fraud  and  collusion  were  out  of  the  question. 
I  turned  the  table  over,  and  'lifted  it  from  the  floor.  No 
mechanism,  no  concealed  confederate,  no  place  on  which  Mrs, 
Hollis  could  have  rested  the  slate  which  she  held,  and  which 
she  must  have  dropped  in  order  to  take  the  book,  had  that 
been,  from  her  position,  a  physical  possibility.  But  there 
was  a  materialized  hand  that  did  take  the  book.  If  my  eyes 
saw  the  book,  they  also  saw  the  hand  that  lifted  it  from  the 
chair.  It  will  not  do  to  say  that  my  senses  assured  me  as  to 
one  fiict,  but  were  incompetent  witnesses  to  the  other.  More- 
over, even  had  it  been  tlie  hand  of  the  medium,  how  did  she 
see  in  absolute  darkness  under  the  table  the  words  printed 
on  page  20,  and  copied  on  the  slate?  It  seems  to  me,^  Pro- 
fessor Faraday's  theory  of  involuntary  muscular  motion  is  put 
hors  de  cojnbat  by  this  test;  and  it  fares  no  better  with  Pro- 
fessor Carpenter's  theory  of  unconscious  cerebration. 

1  thought  this  experiment  interesting  enough  to  repeat. 
Calling  at  the  bookstore  of  Messrs.  Robert  Clarke  &  Co.,  the 
foUowhig  day,  I  requested  Mr.  A.  W.  Whelpley  to  wrap  me  up 
two  books,  one  in  English,  the  other  in  French,  without  letting 
me  know  their  titles  and  character,  and  to  indorse  his  name 
on  the  wrappers.  He  did  so,  and  in  handing  me  the  packages, 
I    understood  him   to   say  the  smaller  contained    the    English 

book. 

Arriving  at  Dr.  Wolfe's,  we  resumed  our  places  around  the 
stand  as  before,  the  light  burning  brightly,  Mrs.  HoUis's 
left-hand  on  the  table,  her   right   holding  the    slate  under.     I 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


530  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

remarked  that  I  had  with  me  two  books,  one  in  French,  the 
other  in  English,  and  that  we  would  try  tlie  English  first.  I 
then  laid  it  on  the  chair  at  C,  no  one  touching  it  but  myself. 
The  hand  appeared,  drew  it  under,  took  off  the  string  and  the 
wrapper,  folded  the  latter  neatly,  and  handed  them  out.  Then, 
after  a  few  minutes,  came  the  book.  When  tlie  pencil  dropped, 
rattling  along  the  slate,  Mrs.  Hollis  withdrew  it.  I  handed  it 
to  Dr.  Wolfe,  who  read,  much  to  my  surprise  :  "  You  have 
made  a  mistake.  This  is  the  wrong  book;  it  is  French."  I 
picked  up  the  volume.  Sure  enough,  it  was  a  school  edition 
of  the  Fables  of  ^sop  in  French.  I  had  misunderstood  Mr. 
Whelpley.  The  other  package  was  then  placed  on  the  chair. 
I  need  not  repeat  the  description.  We  could,  however,  dis- 
tinctly, hear  the  operation  of  unwrapping,  the  turning  of  the 
leaves,  etc.,  and  see,  as  it  was  carried  about,  where  it  disturbed 
the  folds  of  the  covering  of  the  stand.  When  the  slate  was 
handed  to  Di'.  Wolfe,  he  read:  '' Page  14.  Captain  Morris's 
Songs.  Alas!  poor  Morris — writes  one."  I  opened  the  book 
at  page  14,  and  followed  the  reading.  It  was  copied  literallr 
from  the  print,  though  not  the  complete  sentence.  "  Captain 
Morris's  Songs"  was  the  title  of  the  article,  the  first  sentence 
of  which  reads,  complete:  '''Alas!  poor  Morris!'  writes  one 
who  knew  him  well."  The  book  proved  to  be,  "Books  and 
Authors.  Curious  Facts  and  Characteristic  Sketches.  Edin- 
burgh :  William  P.  Nimmo" — a  book  and  publisher  of  whom 
I  know  nothing;  and  I  question  whether  the  volume  has  been 
republished  in  this  country. 

Does  unconscious  correct  conscious  cerebration  ?  If  the 
minds  of  Dr.  Wolfe,  the  medium,  and  myself,  had  any  impression 
with  regard  to  these  books,  it  was  that  the  first  one  laid  in 
the  chair  was  printed  in  English,  nor  was  that  impression  cor- 
rected till  the  announcement  of  the  mistake  was  made  from  the 
slate.  Heie,  then,  was  an  intelligence  which  had  at  least 
elementary  education  in  reading  and  writing,  that  acted  inde- 
pendent of  our  own,  and  corrected  the  impressions  of  our  minds. 
What  was  it  ? 

Many  persons  who  hav^e  been  present  at  Mrs.  Hollis's 
cabinet  seances  have  seen  not  only  faces,  hands,  and  arms,  but 
flowers  of  various  forms  and  colors,  shown  at  an  aperture  in 
the  door.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  book-tests  we  were  in- 
formed  by  slate-writing   that  a   materialized    flower   could   be 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  53^ 

shown  at  the  end  of  the  stand  fronting  C  Presently  a  hand 
appeared  holding  a  full-blown  rose  of  a  deep,  rich  red,  as  large 
and  beautiful  as  could  be  selected  from  the  congressional 
conservatory.  The  flower-stalk  and  the  green  leaves  were 
also  plainly  to  be  seen.  It  was  put  out  from  four  to  five  inches 
beyond  the  curtain,  and  so  close  to  me  I  could  have  touched 
it  As  in  the  materializations  in  the  cabinet,  it  seemed  to 
crlow  and  fade,  advance  and  recede,  as  though  sensitive  to  the 
fight,  and  unable  long  to  remain  in  it.  This,  indeed,  is  charac- 
teristic of  all  the  manifestations  I  have  seen. 

Two  light  sticks  were  placed  in  the  chair,  and  were  pres- 
ently picked  up,  two  hands  slightly  advanced  from  the  curtain 
Uikino-  them,  and  beating  a  sort  of  military  rub-a-dub  for  our 
edification.     It  was  performed  with  the  precision  of  a  drummer- 

Dr.  Wolfe  procured  a  platter  of  flour,  and  asked  if  they 
could   leave  an    impression    of  the  hand    in    it.     They  rapped 
affirmatively.     After  turning  the  platter  around,  but  unable  to 
manao-e  it,  the  request  was  written  that  the  Doctor  would  hold 
it  at  tlie  corner  of  the  table  farthest  from  Mrs.  Hollis  ;  that  is, 
to  the  right  of  C.     He  did  so ;  the  hand  appeared,  and  atter 
indescribably  fluttering  over  it  with  a  rapidity  of  motion  that 
seemed  electric,  rested  in  it  for  a  moment,  and  then  shaking 
oflf  the  adhering    particles,   was  withdrawn.     Mrs.  HoUis  was 
requested  to  place   her  own  hand   in   the   print.     The  finger- 
marks   were    half  an    inch    longer    than   her    fingers.     It    was 
the  impression  of  a  man's  hand,  full-sized,  with  all  the  strong, 
anatomical    markings  of   such    a    hand.      An    anatomist  would 
have  pronounced  it  the  hand  of  a  full-grown  man.     Moreover, 
had  Mrs.  Hollis  undertaken   the  feat,  she  must  have  changed 
her  position,  and   brought   her  shoulder  even  with  the  top  of 
the  stand  to  have  reached   so   far.     But   her  position   was  not 
changed,  and  the  physical   impossibility   that   she  could    have 
done  it  was  demonstrated  past  our  doubt.  .  As  Dr.  Wolfe  was 
employed  in  holding  the  platter  of  flour,  and  I  was  looking  on, 
I  trust  it  is  not  necessary  to  disclaim  any  agency  on  our  part. 
And  how  could  a  full-grown  man  have  concealed  himself  under 
the  table  ?     I   turned   it  over    instantly  the  impression   in  the 
flour  had  been  completed.     There  was  nothing  to  be  seen  but 
Mrs.  Hollis's  right-hand   patiently   holding  the  slate.     Was  it 
illusion  ?     The  impression  in  the  flour  was  seen  by  other  people 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


532  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

afterward.     If  they  saw  it,  so  surely  did  I    see  the  hand  that 
made  it. 

On  the  evening  of  the  28th  of  April,  when  we  were  seated 
around  the  stand  as  before,  1  called  for  a  box  with  a  lock  and 
key.  The  thought  of  this  test  had  just  occurred  to  me.  Miss 
Fanny,  the  doctor's  niece,  brought  in  a  handkerchief-box. 
It  was  made  of  oak-wood,  dovetailed  at  the  corners,  and  finished 
in  walnut.  It  was  about  eighteen  inches  in  length,  by  six  wide 
and  deep,  and  weighed,  as  we  afterward  ascertained,  two  and 
three-fouiths  pounds.  Opening  the  box,  I  put  into  it  a  strip 
of  white  news-print  and  a  lead-pencil,  and  locking  it  (leaving 
the  key  in),  placed  it  on  the  floor  close  to  the  corner  of  the 
stand  nearest  my  chair.  As  Dr.  Wolfe  lifted  the  covering  of 
the  stand,  a  hand  came  out,  and,  taking  firm  hold  of  the  box, 
drew  it  in.  I  had  my  doubts,  owing  to  the  size  of  the  box, 
and  the  narrowness  of  the  space  under  the  stand,  whether  it 
could  be  manipulated.  But  as  we  saw  it  lifted,  and  evidently 
held  in  a  horizontal  position,  the  eiKls  pushing  out  the  stand- 
cloth  on  both  sides,  so  that  we  could  follow  every  movement, 
I  concluded  they  had  strength  to  manage  it.  Now,  mark — for 
I  was  at  pains  to  do  so  myself — that  Mrs.  HoUis's  left-hand 
was  on  top  of  the  stand,  her  right  holding  the  slate  under.  Dr. 
Wolfe  never  approached  the  stand  but  once,  and  then  only 
to  receive  the  box  at  the  opposite  end  as  it  was  put  out,  un- 
locked and  empty,  the  key  having  been  retained  under  the 
table.  Presently  they  asked  for  the  box  again,  and  it  was  put 
where  it  had  been  at  first.  It  was  drawn  under.  We  could 
hear  them  put  the  paper  in  it  and  turn  the  key.  The  box  was 
then  lianded  out  at  the  opposite  corner.  Dr.  Wolfe  received 
it.  It  was  locked.  "What  have  you  done  with  the  key  ?"  was 
asked.  The  key  was  thrown  into  the  chair  at  C,  and  taken 
by  myself.  The  doctor  gave  the  box  to  me,  and,  unlocking 
it,  I  took  out  the  pencil  and  the  paper,  on  which  I  found  written 
in  a  free  hand  these  words  : 

'^  Yes,  Mr.  Plimpton,  we  can  do  this. 

"  Jim  Nolan." 

I  had  privately  marked  the  sheet,  and  could  swear  to  it  in 
any  court  as  the  one  I  put,  blank,  into  the  box. 

Jim  Nolan,  as  you  have  explained  to  your  readers,  I  believe, 
is  Mrs.  Hollis's  control.     His  own  account  of  himself  is,  that 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUA  LISM.  53  3 

he  enlisted  in  the  army  from  Indiana,  was  taken  sick  during 
Sherman's  Georgia  campaign,  was  sent  back  to  Nashville,  and 
died  in  the  Maxwell  House  when  it  was  used  as  a  hospital. 
I  am  told  his  statement  has  been  verified.  In  the  |' dark 
circle"  he  speaks  with  great  ease  and  freedom,  in  a  voice  as 
loud  as  that  of  any  person,  and  with  an  intelhgence  and  native 
wit  and  readiness  of  repartee  thc^t  make  a  conversation  with 
liim  highly  entertaining. 

Now  tlie  reader  will  please  apply  to  these  tests  the  theories 
of  Faraday  or  Carpenter,  or  any  other  physicists  who,  in  then- 
profound  wisdom,  have  undertaken  to  account  for  these  phe- 
nomena. 1  must  insist  that  he  leave  out  all  twaddle  about 
trickery,  sleight-of-hand,  collusion,  and  confederates,  and  give, 
if  he  be  able,  some  rational  explanation  without  admitting 
spiritual  agency.  . 

The  lea-bell  interrupted  the  sitting  at  this  point;  but  Nolan 
by  slate-writing,  informed  us  that,  after  supper,  they  would  show 
us   "spirit-lights."     So,  after  tea,  we  resumed   our  seats.     Re- 
quest was  then  made  that  tlie  light  in  the  room  should  be  lowered, 
the  only  time   during   the  sittings    such  a  request    was  made. 
It  was  turned  down  so  that  the  shadow  of  the  stand  at  C  was 
like  a  twilight  in  which  the  forms  but  not  the  colors  of  tilings 
are  discernible.     These  "  spirit-lights  "  have  been   seen,   I  am 
told,   floating   about    the    room    in    the    dark    circle,    by    many 
persons.     Here  they  were  to  be  shown  within' eighteen  inches 
of  my  face.     Presently  a  hand,  faintly  outUned,  appeared  at  the 
curtains  of   the  stand,  and    from    the    tip    of   each  finger    suc- 
cessively glowed  a  low,  lambent  light  of  bhiish  tinge,  but  without 
the    least    ilUiminating    quality,    which  slowly   expired.     Some- 
times the  hand  would  close,  leaving  the  index-finger  straight, 
with   this    peculiar    phosphorescent    gleam    at    its  tip;    then  it 
would  open  and  display  all  the  fingers,  with  the  lazy  light  visible 
at  the  front  of  each.     This  lasted   for  about    twenty  minutes. 
Once  Dr.  Wolfe  requested  the  hand  to  touch  his  own,  and  the 
shock  passed  from  the  finger-tip  to  the  back  of  his  hand,  pro- 
ducing, as  he    described    it,  a  slight   tingling   sensation  like  a 
feeble'^'shock  from  an  induction  coil.     That  it  was  electrical  in 
its  nature,  I  do  not  doubt. 

I  had  requested  the  medium  to  place  a  ring  on  one  of  the 
fingers  of  the  hand  with  which  she  held  the  slate  under  the 
stand.     She  did  so.     It  was  a  broad,  massive  gold  ring.     When 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


534  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

the  lights  had  been  shown,  this  mysterious  hand  came  forward— 
the  light  meantime  liaving  been  tm-ned  on— and,  advancing  the 
bare  arm  above  the  wrist,  exhibited  its  fingers  one  by  one,  to 
show  that  no  ring  was  upon  it. 

It  repeatedly  touched  the  back  of  my  own  hand,  and  the. 
touch  was  indefinably  soft,  cool,  and  moist.  The  refusal  to 
touch  the  open  pahn,  which  I  extended,  was  afterward  ex- 
plained. ^'For  the  reason,"  said  Nolan,  ''that  the  palm  is  the 
nerve  center,  and  your  own  magnetic  current  is  too  strong  for 
me  to  overcome." 

The  hand  then  picked  up  the  pencil,  which  lay  in  the  chair 
at  C,  and  wrote  ''James,"  with  a  natural  movement  and  rapidity 
tliat  showed  him  to  have  been  a  ready  writer.  A  bell  was 
handed  him,  which  was  rung  with  an  amusing  imitation  of  a 
call  to  dinner.  A  hair-brush  wns  also  handed  him,  and  the 
doctor  bending  down  his  head,  his  {^\n  scant  and  rapidly 
vanishing  silver  locks  were  dexterously  brushed. 

Immediately  after,  I  lifted  and  turned  over  the  table.  There 
was  Mrs.  Hollis's  hand  holding  the  slate,  the  massive  ring  on 
the  finger  on  which  I  had  seen  her  place  it,  and  which  she'^had 
had  no  opportunity  to  remove  or  replace  without  my  having 
observed  it. 

The  following  evening— for  these  sea^ices  had  been,  for  my 
convenience,  about  seven  o'clock,  P.  M.— we  were  asked  to 
sing  ;  but  as  we  were  doubtful  of  our  vocal  ability,  a  Swiss 
music-box  was  substituted,  and  placed  on  the  stand,  Mrs.  Hoilis 
putting  her  left-hand  on  top  of  it,  so  that  it  should  be  in  sight. 
Some  time  elapsed,  when  a  hand  appeared  at  the  end  of  the 
table,  as  different  in  shajDe  to  that  which  we  had  seen  as  a 
delicate  woman's  is  to  that  of  a  strong  man.  It  held  a  hand- 
kerchief of  a  tissue  as  fine  as  though  made  of  mist.  Indeed  I 
could  think  of  nothing  else  to  which  it  might  be  compared. 
The  edge-folds,  however,  were  as  of  condensed  mist,  and  very 
white.  The  ends  of  this  handkerchief  were  trailed  over  Dr. 
Wolfe's  hand,  iind  fell  upon  it  in  folds  as  natural  as  though  it 
were  cambric  linen. 

The  next  materialization  was  more  beautiful.  A  hand  pre- 
sented itself,  with  strings  of  pearls  depending  from  it.  They 
were  in  great  profusion.  The  hand  presented  them  in  several 
positions,  now  hanging  in  loops  or  festoons,  again  falling  back 
over  it,  and   then  gathered   up  and   wound,  about  it.     To   the 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  535 

touch   these  materializations   had    an    abiiost   impalpable   sub- 
stance, cool,  and  softer  than  down. 

I  had  at  ihe  time  no  particular  test  to  make;  but,  seeing  a 
pair  of  scissors  on  the  bureau,  they  were  taken,  and  placed  in 
the  chair  on  top  of  a  block  of  unglazed  paper,  letter-size,  tlie 
ed-es  of  which  had  been  sized  or  glued  together,  as  you  find 
it  hi  any  book-store.  The  hand  came  out  and  took  the  scissors, 
and,  finding  the  block  of  paper  too  large  to  be  admitted  under 
the  stand,  reached  out  and  tore  off  one  of  the  sheets.  Presently 
it  reappeared  with  the  scissors  and  the  sheet,  which  had  been 
folded  quarto,  and  a  heart-shape  piece  cut  out  of  it  as  neatly 
as  though  done  by  an  expert.  Mrs.  HoUis,  it  must  be  admitted, 
4s  extra^'ordinarily  supple-fingered,  if  with  one  hand  she  could 
hold  the  slate,  take  the    paper  and  the  scissors,  and   perform 

this  feat.  .  ^  c  . 

I  remarked  that  I  had  never  seen  any  evidence  of  great 
physical  power  on  the  part  of  the  spirits,  though  stories  of  its 
manifestation  had  often  been  printed.  Could  they  Iht  the  table 
with  the  music-box  on  it.?  The  answer  came  immediately.  It 
was  raised  slowly  about  six  inches  from  the  floor,  and  set  down 
with  a  jar  that  was  heard  in  the  rooms  below.  Seated  in  a 
chair,  in  Mrs.  HoUis's  position,  1  tried,  using  both  hands,  to  hit 
the  table,  but  found  it  impossible.  The  music-box  weighs  a 
fraction  over  twenty-one  pounds.     It  was  never  lifted  by  Mrs. 

Hollis. 

The  last  sitting  did  not  occupy  more  than  twenty  minutes. 
The  medium  had  been  so  much  exhausted  by  sittings  during 
the  day,  that  Nolan  said  it  would  not  do  to  draw  upon  her  to 
any  -rekt  extent.  A  hand,  purporting  to  be  that  of  a  deceased 
sister,  presented  itself  at  the  end  of  the  table,  displaying  the 
arm  nearly  to  the  elbow.  It  was  dressed  in  what  appeared 
to  be  a  flowing  sleeve  of  some  dark  color,  lined  with  what 
resembled  white  silk.  Again  it  appeared,  with  what  seemed  to 
be  a  tulle  under-sleeve,  and  took  from  my  hand  a  spray  of 
apple-blossoms,  afterward  presenting  them  as  a  bouquet,  held 
at  the  point  of  the  fingers  turned  upward.  The  hand  was 
diiferent  in  shape  from  those  I  had  previously  seen,  the  fingers 
being  long  and  slender. 

Now,  my  dear  Colonel,  all  this  while  I  have  been  endeavor- 
incv  to  m'ake  for  you  a  plain  statement  of  facts,  forgetful  of  the 
dreadful  sentence  pronounced  by    Faraday  on  such  witnesses 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


536  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

eight  years  ago.  ^'Tliey  who  say  they  see  these  tilings,"  said 
lie,  ^' are  not  competent  witnesses  of  facts."  Beginning  these 
investigations  a  skeptic,  with  a  feeling  ahnost  of  contempt  for 
believers  in  spiritualism;  never  having  been  troubled  with  a 
disordered  imagination,  or  by  apparitions,  warnings,  or  omens, 
and  accustomed  not  only  to  accept  the  evidences  of  my  own 
senses,  but  educated  by  my  profession  to  a  measurably  cool 
observation  of  events  and  facts  ;  as  ready  to  set  aside  the 
claims  of  the  spiritual  origin  of  these  manifestations  as  to 
accept  them,  should  the  proof  be  inconclusive ;  and  even 
then  willing  to  expose  fraud  or  imposture,  should  any  thing 
lead  me  to  believe  they  were  practiced,  but,  at  the  same  time, 
determined  to  make  the  investigation  honestly,  candidly,  and 
testify  to  the  truth,  regardless  of  the  consequences  to  myself, — 
to  what  other  conclusion  can  I  come,  as  one  after  another  of 
my  doubts  have  been  vanquished,  and  my  unbelief  overcome, 
than  that  these  manifestations  are  precisely  what  they  profess 
to  be  ?  The  conviction  is  forced  upon  me,  that  intelh'gences 
invisible  to  us,  save  as  they  manifest  themselves  through  the 
medium  of  persons  peculiarly  endowed,  can  and  do  communi- 
cate with  tlie  living,  and  that  they  have  as  absolutely  a  personal 
existence  and  identity  as  we  ourselves. 

Tiiey  not  only  assert  this,  but  assure  us  that  they  live  in 
a  world  as  rationally  constructed  for  the  development  of  their 
finite  capacities,  and  for  their  progression  to  still  higher  con- 
ditions of  being.  In  manifesting  their  presence  to  our  grosser 
sense,  they  assure  us  they  employ  natural  agencies;  and  as 
the  world  becomes  more  receptive  of  the  truth,  they  anticipate 
still  greater  power  to  reveal  themselves,  and  convince  us  that 
we  are  indeed  compassed  about  by  an  innumerable  cloud  of 
witnesses,  testifying  to  the  immortality  of  man. 

Of  the  philosophy  of  materializations,  as  explained  by  these 
intelligences  in  Mrs.  HoUis's  seances^  I  forbear  to  write.  My 
purpose  to  make  a  careful  statement  of  facts  is  accomplished; 
and  I  must  leave  the  question  of  my  competency  and  my 
disposition  to  testify  to  the  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth, 
to  those  who  know  me  best. 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  537 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

CONCLUSION. 


HAVE  I  been  continuously  deceived,  for  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  in  regard  to  the  true  charac- 
ter of  the  phenomena  I  have  recorded  ?  Have  all 
the  manifestations  I  have  witnessed  been  delusions? 
Have  I  been  seeing,  hearing,  feeling,  tasting,  smelling 
frauds  half  my  life-time,  and  not  been  able  to  discover 
the  imposition  ?  Have  my  friends  and  enemies,  my 
senses  and  my  better  self,  all  conspired,  so  long,  to 
maintain  an  error— a  vast  system  of  errors— in  the 
similitude  of  Truth  ?  Give  me  some  reason  to  believe 
my  life  a  lie, and  La  dupe.  I  know  all  men  are  liable 
to  be  deceived  ;  but  to  charge  me  with  being  continu- 
ously deceived  while  trying  the  spirits,  in  season  and 
out  of  season,  in  divers  forms,  ways,  means,  and  places, 
is  simply  to  charge  me  with  being  an  imbecile.  Can 
a  man  testify  to  what  he  knows  ? 

But  I  am  not  alone  in  attesting  the  startling 
facts  recorded  in  the  preceding  pages.  If  it  were  so, 
it  would  make  no  difference,  in  my  statement ;  but  it 
is  not  so.  Hundreds  of  reliable  citizens,  competent 
to  testify  on  any  subject  pertaining  to  the  senses,  have 
witnessed  the  same,  or  similar  facts,  on  many  occa- 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


538  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

sioiis,  and   verify  my  statements    in   every  essential 
part. 

The  statements  I  have  made  are,  therefore,  no 
longer  to  be  held  in  abeyance  as  a  question  of  per- 
sonal veracity  ;  but  they  must  be  tried  on  the  broad 
issue,  whether  the  phenomena  are  frauds  or  facts. 

I  have  been  at  more  than  ordinary  painstaking  to 
gather  testimony  from  every  available  source  to  assist 
me  to  decide  this  question.  To  ascertain  the  true 
character  of  these  manifestations,  I  have  spared  no 
expense  of  time,  money,  or  personal  comfort ;  and 
have  engaged  all  the  scrutinizing  powers  I  possess,  to 
ferret  out  the  great  mystery.  More :  I  have  engaged 
others  to  employ  their  detective  powers  in  ascertain- 
ing whether  these  startling  manifestations  of  intelli- 
gence were  of  mundane  or  super-mundane  origin — 
whether  they  were  the  product  of  human  agency,  or 
whether  a  newly  discovered  law  of  life  was  thus  giving 
expression  to  itself.  To  one  or  the  other  sources,  all 
these  phenomena  must  be  attributed.  They  are 
either  stupendous  facts  or  stupendous  falsehoods. 

Millions  of  intelligent  men  and  women  know  the 
major  proposition  to  be  true,  and  the  facts  go  to 
sustain  it ;.  and  millions  more  are  being  resistlessly 
drawn  to  the  same  conclusion  by  the  same  unassail- 
able array  of  testimony.  If  the  manifestations  are 
tricks,  why  not  step  forward  and  expose  them,  and 
thus  save  mankind  from  so  humiliating  a  deception.? 
Tear  away  the  disguises,  and  let  us  know  the  name  of 
the  prestidigitator  who  has  been  playing  such  pranks 
with   human  credulity,  in    every  part  of  the  globe. 

Remember  there  are  millions  of  men  and  women 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM,  539 

who  proclaim  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  of  spu-it  inter- 
course, who,  if  not  undeceived,  will  teach  the  sublime 
truth  to  every  nation  and  to  every  tongue.  They  will 
flood  the  earth  as  a  deluge,  and  destroy  every  op- 
posing sect,  creed,  and  tribe  that  may  be  found  in  the 
way  of  their  conquering  march.  These  people  are 
already  a  grand  power  in  the  world.  Without  concert 
of  action,  without  organization,  without  a  paid  priest- 
hood, they  are  waging  war  upon  every  form  of  wrong. 
They  are  disturbers  of  the  r^//^;^  peace  which  enslaves 
the  life-powers  of  the  soul.  They  strike  at  old  insti- 
tutions, and  destroy  their  shells  with  the  reckless 
daring  of  the  iconoclast.  Bound  by  no  creed,  belong- 
ing to  no  sect,  wearing  no  livery,  bowing  at  no  pagan 
shrine,  they  demand  freedom  as  universal  as  sunlight, 
a7id  will  have  it!  They  have  no  party  ;  neither  poli- 
ticians nor  priests  can  lead  them  ;  and  enemies  they 
are,  not  to  their  fellow-mortals,  but  to  the  dogma  of 
infallibility  ;  denouncing,  fearlessly,  all  piracies  upon 
the  natural  rights  of  man. 

Millions  are  embraced  in  this  mystic  multitude 
who  have  accepted  common  sense  and  the  spirits  as 
their  guides.  The  Czar  Alexander,  by  command  of 
the  spirit  Czar  Nicholas,  manumitted  his  serfs,  and 
transformed  millions  of  slaves  into  millions  of  free- 
men. The  politicians  of  Alabama,  in  power,  enacted 
a  law  against  the  freedom  of  spirit-speech  within  the 
territorial  limits  of  that  state ;  and  the  spirits  declared, 
in  retaliation,  that  they  would  cover  their  land  in  sack- 
cloth and  ashes  ;  and  they  did  it  in  less  than  three 
years.  The  Queen  of  the  British  Empire  "is  crazy 
on   spiritualism,"    say    the   insane    multitude.      Don 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


540  STARTLING  FACTS  IN 

Pedro,  Emperor  of  Brazil,  has  communications  with 
the  spirit-world  through  the  mediumship  of  one  of  his 
children.  The  late  Emperor  of  France  did  not  dis- 
dain to  entertain  a  spirit-medium  at  the  Tuileries. 
To  day,  Victor  Hugo  and  Louis  Blanc  are  inverview- 
ing  their  spirit-friends  in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Hollis, 
in  France.  It  is  well  known  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
communicated  freely  with  Washington  through  the 
mediumship  of  J.  B.  Conklin. 

A  subject  embracing  so  many  interests,  so  far- 
reaching  in  its  power,, should  surely  command  the  at- 
tention and  respect  of  the  grandest  minds  of  any  age 
or  country.  Men  like  Faraday  and  Agassiz  and  Car- 
penter may  sneer  at  it  ;  but  what  of  that  ?  Spiritual- 
ists sneer  at  them.  What's  the  difference?  This: 
These  educated  egotists  do  not  know  what  they  are 
sneering  at.     Spiritualists  do  ! 

We  are  not  children  ;  reason  with  us.  We  can 
no  longer  be  frightened  in  the  dark.  ^  The  incivility 
of  these  learned  boobies,  and  the  ignorance  they  dis- 
play on  this  subject,  make  a  humiliating  exhibit  of 
the  poverty  of  the  stuff  of  which  conventional  great 
men  are  made  up.  These  fellows  may  sneer  at  God's 
eternal  verities  ;  but  what  then  }  Can  they  change  a 
fact,  or  a  truth,  or  a  principle  ?  We  honor  ourselves 
when  we  enlist  in  the  service  of  Truth.  It  is  a  step 
up  when  we  join  her  retinue:  her  livery  ennobles  the 
wearer,  be  he  priest,  peasant,  or  prince.  "If  God  is 
not  on  our  side,"  said  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the  preachers,  "  I 
will  go  to  His  side." 

Science,  true  science,  is  invited  to  explain  the  phe- 
nomena we  have  recorded.     If  she  has  a  key  by  which 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


MODERN  SPIRITUALISM.  S  4 1 

these  mysteries  can  be  explained,  let  her  not  stand 

upon  the  ceremony  of  doing,  but  do  it  at  once.      She 

has  a  golden  opportunity  for  doing  a  good  and  great 

service  to  the  world,  and   winning   lasting    renown. 

Let  her  discover  the  delusion,  and  she  will  rescue 

millions  from  the  gull-trap,  and  prevent  as  many  more 

from  falling  into  it. 

"  The  simplest  peasant  who  observes  a  truth, 
And  from  a  fact  deduces  principle. 
Adds  solid  treasure  to  the  public  wealth." 

The  mission  of  science  is  to  exalt  the  human  fam- 
ily by  teaching  truths  whereby  its  happiness  can  be 
increased.  To  fulfill  this  purpose,  it  seeks  to  discover 
laws  and  principles  underlying  the  phenomena  of  life. 
Will  she  now  come  to  the  front,  and  exercise  her  le- 
gitimate powers  in  the  elucidation  of  this  great  mys- 
tery ?  The  pulpit  and  the  press  have  betrayed  their 
incompetency  in  this  direction.  They  meet  the  spirit 
of  investigation,  on  the  threshold,  with  a  hostile  hand, 
an  unreasoning  head,  and  a  savage  heart.  They  let 
loose  the  mastiff  of  defamation  to  tear  to  very  tat- 
ters the  reputation  of  Truth  -itself,  when  it  comes, 
Diogenes-like,  with  a  light  to  discover  their  blemishes. 

Personal  opinions  are  of  but  little  value  unless 
supported  by  scientific  formulae  and  .  demonstration. 
Here  are  real,  substantial,  well-authenticated  facts  be- 
fore us.  They  come  to  the  world,  like  Christ,  in  the 
fullness  of  time.  Not  any  thing  comes  before  it  is 
needed,  nor  before  it  is  intended  to  appear  by  the 
Supreme  Intelligence.  Shall  we  accept  them,  or  war 
against    the    Great    Eternal?      Who    dare   defy  the 

Omnipotent  to  arms  ? 

48 


Hosted  by 


Googk 


Hosted  by 


Googk